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WHEN    BOSTON   BRAVED   THE   KING 


WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED 
THE  KING 

A  Story  of  Tea-Party  Times 


BY 

WILLIAM    E.    BARTON 

AUTHOR  OF   "A   HERO   IN    HOMESPUN,"   ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED   BY 

FRANK  O.  SMALL 


BOSTON  AND  CHICAGO 
W.   A.   WILDE   &   COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1899, 

BY  W.  A.  WILDE  &  COMPANY. 

All  rights  reserved. 


WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE   KING. 


3T0  tfje  If  0un0  people 

OF 

SHAWMUT   CHURCH 

WHICH    BEARS    THE    ANCIENT   NAME 

AND   PRESERVES   THE  NOBLE   SPIRIT 

OF   OLD   BOSTON 


973384 


PREFACE 

THE  story  of  the  Boston  Tea-Party  has  been  told 
many  times,  but  still  it  offers  to  the  story-teller  a 
tempting  theme.  One  thing  which  deserves  to  be 
brought  more  prominently  to  the  front  is  the  large 
share  which  the  young  people,  the  apprentices,  the 
boys  in  the  Latin  School,  and  the  Daughters  of  Lib 
erty  had  in  the  making  of  public  sentiment  and  the 
carrying  out  of  daring  projects  in  those  momentous 
days. 

This  story  is  intended  to  be  accurate  in  its  repre 
sentation  of  historic  characters  and  events ;  to  give  a 
true  picture  of  life  and  thought  in  Boston  before  the 
Revolution,  and  to  bring  to  the  front  the  young 
people  of  the  time  together  with  their  interesting 
seniors.  Among  the  latter  it  introduces  the  warm 
hearted  and  impulsive  John  Crane ;  the  ever-ready 
and  always  intrepid  Paul  Revere ;  the  unhappy  and 
misunderstood  Governor  Hutchinson ;  the  Quaker 


8  PREFACE 

owner  of  the  tea-ships,  Francis  Rotch ;  and  the  jolly 
old  Tory  parson,  Mather  Byles;  beside  the  leaders 
of  public  sentiment  in  that  day,  Warren,  Adams, 
Hancock,  and  Mollineux.  It  endeavors  to  do  justice 
to  the  Loyalists,  who  deserve  the  privilege  of  speak 
ing  in  their  own  words  to  the  present  generation, 
and  it  attempts  further  to  bring  into  high  relief  the 
earnestness  and  patriotism  of  those  who,  in  the  de 
struction  of  the  tea,  led  in  the  brilliant  and  historic 
protest  against  the  aggressions  of  the  British  govern 
ment. 

The  site  of  the  Liberty  Tree  is  marked  with  a 
tablet,  but  thousands  pass  it  every  day  unheeding, 
and  too  few  know  what  things  were  done  there.  It 
deserves  to  be  remembered  as  a  place  not  less  sacred 
than  Faneuil  Hall,  the  Old  South  Meeting-house,  or 
Independence  Hall. 

w.  E.  B. 

BOSTON,  March  i,  1899. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  The  Two  Trentice  Lads 13 

II.  Two  Sons  of  Liberty 26 

III.  What  John  saw  in  the  Moonlight  ....  42 

IV.  Night  Scenes  in  Old  Boston 50 

V.  A  Liberty  Tree  Meeting 66 

VI.  A  Cheerless  Night 75 

VII.  Running  the  Gantlet 82 

VIII.  The  Hero  of  the  Fire      .         .         .        .         .        .90 

IX.  The  Tory  Parson    .        .        .        .        .        .  97 

X.  All-Hallowe'en          .        .        .        .        .                 .  112 

XI.  A  Prisoner  of  War        .  .        .     -  .        .        .         .  133 

XII.  A  Fight  at  the  Frog  Pond      .         .        .        .         .140 

XIII.  The  Escape      .      '  .        .        .        .        .        .        .  147 

XIV.  Few  die,  and  None  resign       .        .        .         .         .  162 
XV.  The  Fifth  of  November 177 

XVI.  A  Liberty  Riot 195 

XVII.  Behind  the  Old  South  Meeting-house     .        .         .215 

9 


IO  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVIII.     A  Noisy  Sabbath .230 

XIX.  The  Cradle  of  Liberty     .         .                 .        .         .244 

XX.     The  Tea-Party  Bible 254 

XXI.     The  Quaker  Ship-owner 270 

XXII.     The  Watch  at  the  Ship 281 

XXIII.  The  Mohawks  and  their  Allies        ....     289 

XXIV.  Boston  Harbor  as  a  Teapot     .....     297 
XXV.  How  John  proved  himself  Faithful           .         .         .     309 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

"  Three-fourths  of  a  Pain  that  makes  Traitors  confess  " 

Frontispiece  3 1 

'"  '  This  one  must  have  bloomed  on  purpose  for  you  '  "     .         .  53 

"  Men  followed  the  games  " 118 

"  Masa  Cla'ke " 210 

" '  Well,  young  fellow ! ' "        .         .         .        .        .        .         .  254 

ii 


WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 


CHAPTER   I 
THE  TWO  'PRENTICE  LADS 

IT  was  a  Monday  afternoon  in  September,  in  the 
year  1773.  A  lad  ,  who  had  walked  over  Boston 
"Neck  stopped  for  a  moment  under  a  great  spreading 
elm  that  grew  in  the  yard  of  an  old-fashioned  house 
on  what  was  then  Orange  Street,  but  now  is  Wash 
ington  Street.  The  street  continued  on,  but  from 
that  corner  had  another  name,  —  Newbury. 

"  I  think  that  I  have  come  too  far,"  he  said  to 
himself,  and  looked  about  for  a  guide-post.  A 
street  led  off  at  right  angles,  or  as  nearly  at  right 
angles  as  could  be  expected  in  Old  Boston,  and  there 
was  another  nearly  opposite.  "  Surely,"  the  lad 
thought,  "  there  should  be  a  guide-post  here  for 
strangers." 

He  cast  his  eye  toward  the  tree,  and  upon  its 
trunk  saw  a  copper  tablet:  — 

'3 


14  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"This  tree  was  planted  in  the  year  1646,  and 
pruned  by  order  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  February 
14,  1766." 

The  boy's  cheek  flushed,  and  his  heart  beat  faster. 

"The  Liberty  Tree!"  he  said  aloud,  "and  glad 
I  am  to  stand  beneath  it ! " 

He  set  down  the  bundle,  which  he  had  been  carry 
ing  upon  a  stick  over  his  shoulder,  and  looked  about 
him  on  every  side. 

"This  must  be  Liberty  Hall,"«he  said,  "for  I  have 
heard  that  the  space  about  the  Tree  is  so  called." 

The  Tree  was  of  magnificent  size  and  proportions, 
and  had  attained  a  perfection  of  shape  after  its  trim 
ming  that  made  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful  elms  in 
Boston.  Its  spreading  limbs  diverged  from  the  trunk 
at  symmetrical  angles,  and  the  branches  bent  upward 
and  outward,  and  then  gracefully  downward,  in 
sweeping  and  harmonious  curves.  The  leaves  were 
turning  yellow  now,  and  the  ground  was  carpeted 
with  them,  but  the  Tree  still  hung  full,  and  cast  a 
wide  and  pleasant  shade.  John  Farwell  thought  that 
he  had  never  seen  a  tree  so  beautiful.  Through  its 
branches  rose  a  flagpole  which  overtopped  it,  but 
there  was  no  flag  flying  to-day. 


THE  TWO  'PRENTICE  LADS  15 

John  stood  so  long  that  he  almost  forgot  his 
errand,  absorbed  as  he  was  in  the  study  of  the  Tree. 
From  his  revery  he  was  recalled  by  the  approach  of 
a  lad  about  his  own  age,  though  shorter  and  stouter 
than  himself,  carrying  under  his  arm  a  bundle  of 
papers. 

John  stopped  him  as  he  approached,  and  asked, 
"Can  you  tell  me  where  the  house  of  Mr.  Crane  is?" 

"You  mean  John  Crane?"  asked  the  other. 

"The  same.  John  Crane  is  the  name  I  have  been 
given.  I  think  he  lives  not  far  from  here." 

"  Not  far,  and  I'm  going  by.  I'll  show  you  where 
he  lives.  He's  a  great  man,  is  Mr.  John  Crane." 

"  So  I  have  been  told.     He  is  a  carpenter." 

"  Aye,  and  much  beside,  as  a  lad  should  know  who 
stands  reading  the  plate  on  yonder  Tree.  '  Under- 
standest  thou  what  thou  readest?'  as  Philip  asked  the 
Ethiopian  ?  " 

"  Aye,  though  I  am  no  Ethiopian.  Yet,  like  the 
Ethiopian,  would  I  wish  some  man  to  guide  me,  for 
this  is  my  first  visit  to  Boston." 

"  Well,  then,  I'll  be  your  guide,  though  I  be  no  more 
a  deacon  like  Philip,  than  you  an  Ethiopian.  This 
Tree, — but  the  story  is  known  to  you?" 


16  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  I  have  known  of  the  Liberty  Tree  since  I  was  half 
my  present  age." 

"Which  is  —  ?" 

"Seventeen.     And  yours  —  ?" 

"The  same,  lacking  a  year.  I  was  born  on  Guy 
Fawkes  Day,  which  is  lucky,  for  I  get  ever  a 
holiday." 

"  Mayhap  I'll  celebrate  it  with  you,  since  it  is  not 
far  away.  What  is  your  name?" 

"  Thomas  Lawson.  It  once  was  Thomas  Hutchinson 
Lawson,  for  my  father  had  a  better  opinion  of  his 
Excellency  than  have  I.  I'll  have  no  Hutchinson  in 
my  name.  I'll  drop  it  altogether,  or  I'll  change  it  to 
Barre,  as  the  town  named  Hutchinson  is  about  to  do. 
I'd  rather  be  named  for  the  man  who  stood  for  our 
rights  in  Parliament  and  gave  to  us  the  name  we 
love,  '  Sons  of  Liberty.'  " 

"  But  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  not  governor  when  you 
were  born." 

"Nay,  but  at  that  time  he  had  secured  good 
money  for  Massachusetts  that  makes  us  now  out  of 
debt,  while  Rhode  Island  with  its  paper  money  is 
poor.  And  my  father  honored  him  for  that  as  he 
obtained  for  New  England  the  money  due  us  from 


THE  TWO  'PRENTICE  LADS  17 

Parliament  for  the  work  of  the  Colonies  in  the  French 
War.  My  father  fought  at  Louisburg,  and  that  was 
why  he  loved  the  name.  But  had  he  lived  till  now, 
he  would  have  hated  it,  even  as  I  do." 

"  Your  father  is  dead  ?     So  is  mine." 

"  Aye,  and  my  mother  too.  And  I  am  'prentice 
to  Edes  &  Gill,  printers  of  the  Gazette,  and  it  ill  be 
comes  me  to  be  standing  here  talking  when  my 
papers  are  to  be  delivered.  Come,  let  us  go  on. 
No,  not  that  street — that  is  Essex,  and  leads  not 
right  either  for  me  or  you.  This  is  the  way  we  go, 
down  Frog  Lane.  You  came  past  the  street  that 
would  have  been  nearest,  which  is  Nassau.  It  is  a 
new  street,  and  runs  from  Frog  Lane  below  the  Com 
mon  into  Orange." l 

"And  this  is  Frog  Lane?" 

"Aye.  It  leads  past  the  end  of  the  Common  and 
the  burying-ground  to  the  Marshes ;  and  beyond  it 
lies  the  Back  Bay." 

"You  leave  your  papers  at  the  doors?" 

1  Washington  Street  bore  several  names;  the  part  of  it  from  Dock 
Square  to  School  Street  was  called  Cornhill;  from  School  to  Winter 
Street  it  was  known  as  Marlborough;  from  Winter  to  Essex  it  was 
Neweberry  (or  Newbury) ;  and  above  Essex  Street  it  was  Orange  Street. 
These  names  were  all  consolidated  into  Washington  Street  about  1823. 


1 8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Yes ;  I  leave  one  here.  This  is  Dame  Snyder's 
house.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  Chris  Snyder  ?  No  ? 
He  lived  here.1  His  mother  is  a  widow,  and  he  was 
shot  by  a  Tory  named  Richardson,  from  the  shop  of 
a  tea-selling  merchant,  Theophilus  Lillie,  in  Middle 
Street."2 

"  What  did  they  with  the  man  who  killed  him  ? " 

"  They  were  to  have  hung  him,  but  the  Governor 
would  not  let  so  precious  a  Tory  stretch  hemp.  He 
is  in  prison,  but  on  the  day  of  Chris  Snyder's  funeral 
there  was  a  board  nailed  to  the  Liberty  Tree  with 
the  text,  '  Thou  shalt  take  no  satisfaction  for  the  life 
of  a  murderer;  he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death.'' 

"  At  the  Liberty  Tree  ?  Is  everything  in  Boston 
done  at  the  Liberty  Tree  ? " 

"  Much  of  it.  The  funeral  was  held  there.  It 
was  in  February,  more  than  two  years  ago.  Well  do 
I  remember  it,  for  a  week  later  came  the  Massacre." 

"I  know  well  the  date  of  the  Massacre, — the  fifth 
of  March,"  said  John. 

"  Every  patriot  knows  it,   nor  shall  it  ever  be  for- 

1  The  home  of  Christopher  Snyder  was  in  Frog  Lane,  now  Boylston 
Street,  not  far  from  the  site  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Union  Building. 
2  Hanover  between  Prince  Street  and  Blackstone,  then  Mill  Creek. 


THE    TWO     PRENTICE    LADS  IQ 

gotten.  It  was  the  anger  of  the  people  over  the 
murder  of  Snyder  that  led  to  the  Massacre." 

"  And  they  held  the  funeral  out  of  doors,  and  in 
winter  ? " 

"  Aye,  for  no  house  would  hold  the  throng.  The 
schools  dismissed,  the  shops  closed,  the  'prentices 
had  half-holiday,  the  whole  town  was  there ;  six 
hundred  lads  from  the  schools  marched  in  proces 
sion  ;  aye,  and  Old  Master  Lovell,  Tory  though  he 
be,  was  there,  and  the  populace  by  thousands.  There 
has  never  been  such  a  funeral  in  Boston.  Come 
with  me  a  few  steps  this  way,  if  you  are  not  weary. 
I  have  a  paper  to  leave.  This  is  the  Common. 
Yonder  on  the  hilltop  is  the  Beacon,  to  be  fired  in 
time  of  danger.  It  is  called  Sentry  Hill,  but  some 
call  it  Beacon  Hill ;  in  this  corner  of  the  Common 
is  the  bury  ing-ground." 

"  I  am  most  glad  to  see  Boston  Common,"  said 
John.  "  I  have  often  desired  to  see  it." 

"  Where  is  your  home  ? "  asked  Tom.  "  I  have  told 
you  so  much  about  Boston  I  have  let  you  tell  me 
nothing  about  yourself." 

"  My  home  has  been  in  Gloucester.  My  father  was 
lost  at  sea,  and  my  mother  also  is  dead.  I  have  been 


2O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

much  upon  the  sea  with  my  father,  but  never  before 
to  Boston.  I  worked  this  summer  upon  a  farm  at 
Lexington,  and  I  am  coming  to  be  apprenticed  to  Mr. 
Crane  to  become  a  housewright." 

"  We  shall  be  at  Mr.  Crane's  house  very  soon,"  said 
Tom.  "  It  is  there  on  the  right,  and  the  street  which 
runs  across  from  it  is  Hollis.  On  the  other  corner 
lives  Mr.  Lovering.  He  is  a  tallow-chandler,  and  a 
Son  of  Liberty,  and  I  leave  a  paper  there.  On  the 
opposite  corner  of  Hollis  Street,  in  yon  square  house, 
lives  Mr.  Bradlee,1  who  also  is  a  Son  of  Liberty." 

"They  all  seem  to  be  Sons  of  Liberty  in  this  end 
of  the  town,"  said  John. 

"  Many  of  them,  but  not  all.  Just  beyond  Mr.  Crane 
is  Mather  Byles,  the  Tory  parson,  and  there  on  Hollis 
Street  is  his  church." 

"  Is  his  church  Tory,  too  ? " 

"A  few  of  his  members  are  Tories,  but  there  is 
much  opposition  to  him.  It  is  said  the  members  would 
gladly  be  rid  of  him,  but  he  is  an  old  man  now  and 
has  served  them  long." 

"  I  have  known  no  Tory  parsons,"  said  John,  "  and 

1  The  fine  old  Bradlee  House,  later  known  as  the  Daggett  House,  was 
torn  down  in  1808. 


THE    TWO     PRENTICE    LADS  21 

this  summer  I  have  heard  Mr.  Clarke  of  Lexington, 
and  I  warrant  you  he  is  no  Tory." 

"  No,  nor  the  most  of  our  preachers.  But  Byles 
is  unlike  the  rest." 

"  What  is  he  like  ?  sour  and  stern  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all,  but  the  j oiliest  old  fellow,  in  a  big  wig, 
and  with  a  hearty  laugh.  You  shall  see  enough  of 
him,  for  he  lives  next  door  to  Mr.  Crane.  But  here 
you  are  at  the  door." 

"  I  am  most  glad  to  know  you,  and  trust  we  shall 
meet  often." 

"That  will  we,  for  I  come  with  the  paper  every 
week,  and  sometimes  oftener  of  errands  to  Mr.  Crane. 
Here  he  is  now." 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  a  stout, 
thick-set,  brawny  man  of  twenty-eight  or  twenty-nine 
appeared. 

"  Eh,  you  young  rascal,"  he  said  to  Tom,  "  you're 
late  to-day,  I'll  warrant.  I've  waited  for  that  paper 
this  half-hour.  Why  does  not  Edes  turn  thee  off  and 
get  a  swifter  devil  to  run  his  errands  ?  Eh  ?  " 

"  The  paper  was  printed  a  little  later,  sir,  for  a 
letter  had  just  come  in  from  Dr.  Adams.  You'll  find 
it  on  the  second  page,  and  most  important,  too,  sir." 


22  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Whatever  Sam  Adams  writes  is  worth  reading. 
What  says  he  now  ? " 

"  He  calls  on  the  people  of  the  Colonies  to  form  a 
Continental  Congress,  sir.  There  is  the  letter.  And 
this  lad  comes  to  see  you,  and  I  will  leave  him." 

"  May  it  please  you,  sir,"  said  John,  stepping  for 
ward,  "  I  am  John  Farwell,  and  I  have  come  to  be 
articled  to  learn  to  be  a  housewright." 

"  Yes,  yes,  lad,  I  know.  But  wait  a  bit.  Stay,  can 
you  read  ? " 

"  I  can  read,  sir,"  said  John. 

"  And  so  can  I,  but  not  so  well  as  I  can  plane  a 
board  or  shoot  a  gun.  Here,  lad,  let  me  hear  you 
read.  Nay,  but  I  want  to  look  over.  Sit  beside  me 
here.  Now  read  on." 

So  John  sat  on  the  doorstep  beside  his  new  master, 
and  read  him  the  carefully-written  article  in  which 
Samuel  Adams  called  on  the  Colonies  to  insist  upon 
such  terms  as  would  admit  of  no  other  authority  within 
the  Colonies  than  their  own  legislatures. 

"  Stay,  lad,  read  not  so  fast.  Let  me  see  what  he 
says,"  said  Crane. 

John  read  him  the  entire  letter.  It  began  with  the 
words,  startlingly  courageous  :  — 


THE    TWO     PRENTICE    LADS  23 

"The  various  methods  that  have  been  used  by  the 
British  administration  to  carry  their  favorite  point  of  enslaving 
America  is  a  strong  reason  why  we  should  be  watchful  of  every 
maneuvre." 

The  letter  went  on,  in  terms,  courteous  to  the 
King,  but  defiant  toward  the  British  ministry,  to 
assert  the  rights  of  the  Colonies.  It  quoted  Frank 
lin,  then  in  England,  concerning  the  righteousness 
of  the  Colonies'  protest,  and  counselled  united  and 
constant  agitation,  believing  that,  — 

"  Decent  and  manly  protests  against  particular  in 
novations  have  the  greatest  tendency  to  an  effectual, 
if  not  a  speedy,  removal  of  them." 

John  read  the  letter  in  a  straightforward  and 
intelligent  manner.  Crane  heard  it  with  manifest 
interest.  His  own  early  education  had  been  of  a 
meagre  nature,  and  while  he  could  read  and  write, 
and  was  quick  at  figures,  he  was  glad  to  have  read 
to  him  his  more  heavy  literature.  He  was  a  con 
stant  reader  of  the  Gazette,  sitting  in  the  twilight  of 
each  Monday  and  poring  over  it,  and  spelling  out 
with  some  difficulty  the  long  words  in  the  articles 
which  Warren,  Adams,  and  other  patriots  contributed 
week  by  week,  mostly  over  Latin  pen-names.  The 


24  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

leader  this  week  was  signed  by  a  simple  "A,"  which 
revealed  at  once  its  authorship. 

It  was  plain  that  John's  reading  made  a  good 
impression  upon  his  employer.  He  had  begun  to 
read  in  some  uneasiness,  little  expecting  such  a  test 
of  his  fitness  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade.  But 
he  gathered  courage  as  he  proceeded,  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  that  Crane  counted  his  reading 
a  manifest  improvement  upon  his  own.  Like  many 
men  of  meagre  education,  he  was  accustomed  to  gather 
thoughts  more  readily  from  spoken  than  from  printed 
words ;  and  hence,  while  liking  to  look  over  the  page, 
he  liked  also  to  hear  the  spoken  words  that  assisted 
his  own  comprehension. 

"  That  man  Adams  is  a  great  man,"  said  Crane,  "  and 
he  knows  well  what  his  words  mean.  But  if  I  mistake 
not,  there  is  but  one  end  to  suchlike  talk  as  that,  and 
that  is,  a  free  country  here.  But  come  in,  lad.  What 
did  you  say  is  your  name  ?  Come  in,  John.  We  will 
talk  about  the  articles  later.  What  are  your  qualifica 
tions  to  be  a  housewright  ?  You  can  read  ?  That  is 
well.  Are  you  a  Tory,  or  a  lover  of  liberty  ?  " 

"  A  lover  of  liberty,"  said  John,  "  and  so  was  my 
father  before  me." 


THE    TWO     PRENTICE    LADS  25 

"  And  Parson  Clarke  sends  you  ?  Well,  that  is 
enough.  To-morrow,  mayhap,  I'll  see  if  you  can  drive 
a  nail.  But  come  in  now  with  your  bundle,  and 
have  a  bite  to  eat.  You'll  have  a  cup  of  milk, 
maybe  ?  Or  tea  such  as  we  make  of  raspberry 
leaves  ?  You'll  get  no  other  kind  here  !  " 
.  At  this  moment  Mrs.  Crane  appeared,  a  baby  in 
her  arms,  and  a  little  girl  at  her  skirt,  hiding  from 
the  stranger  and  making  coquettish  advances  toward 
her  father. 

"  Ah  !  you  witch,  Alice  !  "  cried  Crane,  catching  the 
little  one  up  and  placing  her  triumphantly  upon  his 
shoulder.  "  Mehitable,  my  dear,  this  lad  is  John  Far- 
well,  who  comes  to  learn  to  be  a  housewright.  Lad,  this 
is  Mistress  Crane,  whom  you  must  obey  as  I  do.  My 
dear,  this  lad  seems  a  likely  cub,  and  he  can  read  well, 
and  he  comes  from  Parson  Clarke.  We've  a  bit  of  a 
room  in  the  attic  where  I  think  we  can  stow  him,  and 
we'll  keep  him  in  the  house  with  us  if  he  minds  well." 

And  so  John  was  admitted,  not  only  to  the  shop, 
but  to  the  home,  of  John  Crane,  already  distinguished 
as  a  soldier,  and  destined  to  become  a  colonel  and 
one  of  the  foremost  of  the  colonial  artillery  officers 
in  the  great  war  that  was  even  then  impending. 


CHAPTER  II 

TWO   SONS   OF   LIBERTY 

JOHN  FARWELL  spent  his  first  evening  in  Boston 
in  a  happy  frame  of  mind.  He  had  long  looked 
forward  to  such  a  future  as  now  seemed  opening 
to  him.  Since  the  death  of  his  father  he  had  been 
alone  in  the  world.  All  the  hopes  which  he  had 
cherished  up  to  that  time  seemed  suddenly  to  have 
come  to  an  end,  and  to  leave  him  no  opening  on 
land  or  sea.  To  no  one  does  the  earth  itself  seem  so 
cheerless  as  to  one  who  has  been  reared  upon  the 
water,  and  to  whom  the  water  has  proved  unkind. 
To  a  Gloucester  lad  the  land  is  always  accepted 
with  an  apology,  as  a  poor  substitute  for  man's 
proper  home,  the  sea.  The  fisheries  of  Gloucester 
had  afforded  no  opportunity  for  a  livelihood  since 
John  had  been  left  alone.  The  proceeds  of  his 
father's  half-interest  in  a  fishing-boat  had  hardly 

sufficed    to    pay   the   bills   incurred    by    his    mother's 

26 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  2/ 

sickness  and  death,  and  he  had  been  left  alone  and 
penniless. 

The  summer  months  had  afforded  John  employ 
ment  near  Lexington,  and  he  had  given  himself  to 
the  making  of  hay.  But  the  farmers  were  less  busy 
now,  and  with  the  autumn  he  would  have  been  adrift 
again  but  for  the  good  offices  of  Parson  Clarke,  who, 
learning  that  John  Crane  had  need  of  another  ap 
prentice,  secured  the  place  for  John. 

It  seemed  to  John  too  good  to  be  true.  Boston  ! 
What  New  England  lad  has  not  desired  to  live  there  ? 
What  daydream  in  all  John's  loneliness  had  not  found 
its  brightest  and  most  impossible  feature  in  a  trip 
to  Boston  ?  In  Boston  one  could  be  in  touch  with 
the  world ;  in  Boston  were  night-schools,  and  books, 
and  means  of  improvement ;  in  Boston  the  patriotic 
sentiment  of  the  Province  was  most  intense  ;  in 
Boston  one  might  hope  to  see,  and,  perhaps,  even 
to  hear,  the  great  patriot  leaders ;  Boston  was  the 
port  whence  ships  sailed  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  — 
the  gateway  to  all  glorious  lands  and  journeys;  in 
Boston  was  all  that  John  had  ever  hoped  for — and 
his  dream  had  come  true !  He  sat  in  the  chimney 
corner  by  the  fire  of  John  Crane,  trying  to  make 


28  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

himself  believe  that  it  was  a  dream.  It  was  true, 
though  almost  too  good  to  be  true. 

Mrs.  Crane  sat  knitting,  her  foot  on  the  rocker  of 
the  cradle.  John  Crane  was  reading  his  Gazette 
before  the  fire. 

"  Here,  lad,"  he  said,  "  read  to  me  a  bit.  My  eyes 
are  not  so  good  as  they  once  were  for  reading,  though 
never  better,  I  warrant  you,  for  seeing  the  sights 
upon  a  brass  cannon.  Adams  has  outdone  himself 
in  this  letter.  Let  me  light  my  pipe  and  listen, 
while  you  read  it  through." 

John  took  the  paper  and  began  to  read,  knowing 
well  that  there  was  little  the  matter  with  Crane's 
eyes,  but  he  had  scarcely  begun  when  there 
came  a  knock  of  the  old  brass  knocker  on  the 
door. 

"Who's  at  the  door?  Go,  lad,  and  see,"  said  Mr. 
Crane ;  and  John  went. 

"  Is  Master  Crane  within  ? "  asked  a  hale  voice  as 
John  opened  the  door.  "  Tell  him  that  Master  Re 
vere  would  speak  with  him." 

"He  is,"  answered  Mr.  Crane,  before  John  could 
speak.  "  Come  in,  Paul.  I  have  much  to  say  to 
you." 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  2Q 

The  visitor  stepped  inside.  "  Good  morrow,  John. 
God  save  you,  Mistress  Crane,"  he  said.  "  How  fares 
this  end  of  Boston  ?  " 

"  As  well  as  yours,  I  warrant.  What  are  you 
nabobs  of  the  North  End  doing  ? " 

-  It  was  evident  from  their  first  word  that  these  two 
friends  were  given  to  joking  each  other,  and  that 
the  rivalries  of  the  two  ends  of  Boston  afforded  a 
continual  subject  for  their  mirth. 

"  Honestly  employed  for  the  most  part,  I  warrant. 
What  new  mischief  hath  the  South  End  devised  by 
this  time?" 

"You'll  know,  come  Guy  Fawkes  Day.  Are  your 
lads  to  have  a  pope  ? " 

"  Aye,  unless  they  take  George  III." 

"  Ah,  Paul !  Your  joke  ever  outruns  mine ! 
Though  I  doubt  not  it  would  suit  the  temper  of 
many  at  both  Ends.  Still,  I  fancy  the  King  would 
be  better  but  for  his  ministers." 

"  Deceive  not  yourself,  John.  The  ministers,  bad 
as  many  of  them  are,  are  better  than  the  King.  It 
is  that  crazy  German  that  sits  on  England's  throne 
with  whom  we  have  to  reckon.  We  have  many 
friends  among  the  commoners,  and  yet  more  among 


3O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

the  people.  It  is  George  himself  that  is  our  heavy 
villain." 

"  You  may  be  right.  But  come,  draw  up  your 
chair,  and  light  a  pipe  with  me." 

"That  I  will,"  said  Paul.  "Though  I  care  less 
for  your  pipe  than  for  the  companionship  of  Mis 
tress  Crane.  It  is  lonely  enough  at  our  house  now, 
madam." 

"Are  all  the  children  well?"    asked  Mrs.  Crane. 

"  All  well,  I  thank  you,  and  I  hope  they  may  soon 
be  better,"  replied  Paul  Revere. 

"  Better  ?  Ah,  Mr.  Revere,  I  can  guess  what  that 
means ! " 

"  Now  hear  the  wisdom  of  woman !  And  what 
have  I  said  that  gives  you  the  right  to  guess  at  my 
meaning  further  than  what  the  words  say  ?  "  asked 
Revere,  mirthfully. 

"  I  have  heard,"  said  she. 

"  Heard  ? "  he  demanded.  "  Well,  and  what  hast 
thou  heard  ?  Beshrew  me  if  the  old  town  of  Boston 
be  not  the  worst  place  for  gossip  ! " 

"  I  have  heard  that  your  children  may  soon  hope 
for  a  new  mother." 

"Ah!    that's   the  way  you  women  do  injustice  to  a 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  31 

widower !  It's  enough  to  drive  a  man  to  matrimony 
to  be  rid  of  you !  And  whom  do  the  gossips  say  I 
am  to  wed  ? " 

"  I  have  told  you  all  that  has  been  told  thus  far. 
Surely  it  would  be  better  manners  for  me  to  hear 
that  from  you." 

"That  is  well  done,  I  confess,"  said  Paul. 

"  You  may  as  well  tell  her,  Paul,"  said  John. 
"  There's  no  keeping  a  secret  from  her." 

"  I  care  little  for  secrets,"  said  Mrs.  Crane,  blushing. 
"  It  was  Mr.  Revere  who  introduced  the  subject." 

"Well,  I  may  as  well  tell  you.  I  have  written  it 
out  on  a  bit  of  paper.  Here  it  is.  No,  this  is  a 
bill  for  some  work  at  my  shop.  Stay !  it's  on  the 
other  side !  I  declare,  I've  written  it  on  the  back 
of  Mr.  Greene's  bill.  I  must  be  gone  daft.  I'll 
make  a  new  bill,  for  I  must  keep  what's  on  the  other 
side.  Listen,  I  will  read  it  to  you." 

He  took  from  his  pocket  a  bill  on  whose  face  was 
the  account  of  "  Mr.  Benjamin  Greene  "  for  gold  but 
tons,  shoe  buckles,  and  the  mending  of  a  spoon,  and 
read  :  — 

"Three-fourths  of  a  Paine  that  makes  Traitors  confess, 
With  three  parts  of  a  place  which  the  Wicked  don't  Bless; 


32  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

Joyne  four-sevenths  of  an  exercise  which  Shop-keepers  use, 
Add  what  Bad  Men  do,  when  they  good  actions  refuse. 
These  four,  added  together  with  great  care  and  Art, 
Will  point  out  the  Fair  One  that  is  nearest  my  Heart." 

"  What's  that  ? "  asked  Crane.  "  I  can't  make  head 
or  tail  of  it." 

"  It's  long  since  you  were  in  love,"  said  Revere. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I'm  in  love  still,  but  I  keep  my 
senses,  and  write  no  poetry.  A  man  is  far  gone 
when  he  writes  poetry.  Were  you  to  apply  for  ad 
mission  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  now,  you'd  be  black 
balled." 

"  And  why  ?  " 

"  You  are  no  freeman :  nor  seek  to  be." 

"Be  still  with  your  nonsense,"  said  Mrs.  Crane, 
"  and  let  us  find  the  name." 

"Aye,  there  you  go  again,"  said  Paul.  "You'll 
not  be  content  till  you  learn  the  name  of 
my  bride  that  is  to  be,  and  you'll  tell  it  over 
Boston." 

"  Tell  it  ?     You  think  I  cannot  keep  a  secret  ? " 

"  I  suppose  you  can,  but  I  talk  not  of  miracles." 

"  Well,  I'll  not  try  to  keep  it,  if  you  annoy  me 
thus.  Read  that  again." 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  33 

"'Three-fourths  of  a  Paine  that  makes  Traitors  confess, 
With  three  parts  —  '  " 

"  Stop  there !  One  line  at  a  time.  Now  what  may 
that  mean?  'Three-fourths  of  a  Paine,'  P-a-i  — " 

"  No,  no !  That's  not  it.  It's  the  thing  which 
causes  the  pain." 

"  Why  did  you  not  say  so  ?  " 

"  Can  you  allow  nothing  for  poetic  license  ? " 

"  We  can  hardly  expect  a  man  to  talk  what  he 
means  when  he  is  both  in  poetry  and  in  love." 

"  Be  still,  John,  and  let  us  learn  this  riddle.  '  Three- 
fourths  of  a  pain  — ' ' 

"  Right  so  far.     Now  what  pain  ? " 

"The  pain  of  a  cracked  head  or  a  broken  heart, 
I'll  warrant,"  said  Crane,  still  intent  on  his  badinage. 

"  Oh,  we  can  never  get  on  at  this  rate,"  said  Mrs. 
Crane.  "  Come,  Mr.  Revere,  if  we  were  alone,  we 
could  guess  it,  but  John  will  persist  in  annoying  us. 
Keep  us  on  the  rack  no  longer.  We  cannot  guess 
it." 

"You  very  nearly  guessed  it  then,  my  lady,"  said 
Revere. 

"I  have  it,"  said  Mrs.  Crane.  "Rack!  Three- 
fourths  of  r-a-c-k  is  R-a-c.  Now  go  on !  " 

D 


34  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"'With  three  parts  of  a  place  which  the  Wicked  don't  Bless;  '" 

"  I  can  guess  that,"  said  Crane. 

"  I  thought  you  would  be  able,"  said  Revere. 

"  But  I  object  to  mixing  theology  with  love-mak 
ing,"  said  Crane. 

"R-a-c,"  spelled  Mrs.  Crane,  "  h-e-1  —  Rachel ! 
Rachel  who  ? " 

"'Joyne  four-sevenths  of  an  exercise  which  Shop-keepers  use,'" 

"That's  too  far  in  fractions  for  me,"  said  Crane. 
"  Here,  lad,  you  have  studied.  What  is  '  four-sevenths 
of  a '  —  what  is  it  ?  " 

"An  exercise  Shop-keepers  use,"  prompted  Revere. 

"That  must  be  walking,"  said  John  Farwell,  "for 
they  have  little  chance  for  other  exercise." 

"  W-a-1-k-i-n-g,  —  seven  letters,"  said  Mrs.  Crane. 
"  We  must  take  four.  The  first  four,  is  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  the  first  four,  though  you  ask  much  more 
help  than  you  have  a  right." 

"  I  see ! "  cried  Mrs.  Crane.  "  I  know  the  name 
now." 

"Well,  go  on  with  your  puzzle,"  said  Crane,  "and 
have  done  with  it.  Paul  and  I  would  talk  politics  !  " 

"  Politics !  "    said    Mrs.   Crane.     "  You  know   you're 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  35 

as  eager  to  know  whom   Mr.    Revere  is  to  marry  as 
I  am.     Do  you  not  get  the  name  yet  ?  " 
"-Last  syllable,"  said  Paul. 

" (  Add  what  Bad  Men  do,  when  they  good  actions  refuse.' " 

"  Sin,"  suggested  Crane. 

"  Err,"  said  John  Farwell,  who,  having  been  invited 
to  make  one  guess,  now  ventured  another. 

"Right,  my  lad,"  replied  Paul;  "and  now  what 
name  does  it  make?" 

"  Rachel  Walker,"  said  John.  "  Though,  pardon 
me,  sir,  have  you  not  one  '  r '  too  many  ? " 

"  No  matter  about  that,"  Paul  laughingly  answered. 
"  Few  great  men  are  good  spellers.  There's  never 
been  a  Prime  Minister  of  England  yet  that  spelt 
the  same  word  every  time  alike.  The  name  will  go 
right  on  the  record,  and  'tis  near  enough  right  here 
for  poetry." 

"  I  know  Rachel  Walker,"  said  Mrs.  Crane.  "  She 
is  an  excellent  and  charming  woman.  I  am  glad  for 
your  home  and  children  that  she  is  coming.  When 
are  you  to  marry  ?  " 

"  In  a  fortnight,"  said  Revere.1 

1  Paul  Revere  married   Rachel    Walker,   a  worthy   and   faithful   wife, 


36  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Who  is  to  marry  you  ? " 

"  Dr.  Mather,"  1  said  Revere.  "  I  attend  his  church 
now.  It  was  a  sad  blow  to  me  when  Dr.  Mayhew 
died."2 

"  It  was  a  blow  to  us  all.  No  man  spoke  more 
plainly  for  liberty  than  he." 

"Aye.  He  was  in  the  pulpit  what  Warren  is  on 
the  platform,  or  Sam  Adams  with  his  pen,  or  Ben 
Franklin  at  court.  We  had  sore  need  of  him." 

"  Aye.  And  the  zeal  of  the  good  he  sought  to  do 
consumed  him.  He  died  too  young." 

"  Yes.  How  like  you  the  custom,  begun  with  his 
funeral,  of  a  prayer  and  a  funeral  service  ? " 

October  10,  1773.     He  was  at  this  time   a  widower,   nearly   thirty-nine 
years  of  age,  and  the  father  of  eight  children. 

1  This  was  Dr.  Samuel  Mather,  son  of  Cotton  Mather,  pastor   of  a 
church  in  North  Bennett  Street,  near  Revere's  home.     He  is  buried  with 
his  father,  Cotton  Mather,  and  his  grandfather,  Increase  Mather,  in  the 
family  tomb  on  Copp's  Hill,  Boston. 

2  Jonathan  Mayhew,  pastor  of  the  West  Church  in  Boston,  died  in 
1766.     Revere  attended  his  church.     He  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
fearless  men  in  Boston.     His  sermon  on  the  execution  of  Charles  I.  was 
an  epoch-making  utterance.     His  sermon,  preached  only  a  few  weeks 
before  he  died,  on  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  was  a  noble  plea  for 
religious  and  civil  liberty.     On  his  death-bed  he  wrote  to  Otis,  urging 
Colonial  union  as  the  only  means  of  securing  and  perpetuating  the  liber 
ties  of  America.     His  name  deserves  to  be  held  in  immortal  honor. 


TWO   SONS    OF    LIBERTY  37 

"  It  seems  to  me  a  bit  Popish.  I  doubt  if  it  grows. 
But  nothing  was  too  good  for  Dr.  Mayhew." 

"  Aye.  Would  I  could  be  married  by  such  a  pa 
triot,"  said  Revere.  "  But  Dr.  Mather  is  a  patriot." 

"  Aye.  Four  generations  of  patriotic  blood  on  this 
side  the  water,  and  I  know  not  how  many  on  the 
other,  are  in  his  veins." 

"  Yes,  and  great  learning ;  though  men  speak  slight 
ingly  of  his  father." 

"  The  foolish  do,  but  not  the  wise.  Cotton  Mather 
had  his  follies,  —  he  was  superstitious,  and  he  was 
vain,  —  but  he  had  the  heart  of  a  man,  the  learning 
of  a  sage,  the  wisdom  of  a  prophet." 

"As  to  learning,  he  had  enough  for  ten ;  as  to 
wisdom,  I  have  doubted  it." 

"  Wisdom  ?  At  what  craft  did  he  not  know  more 
than  its  masters  ?  In  astronomy  ?  Did  not  Samuel 
Sewall,  Chief  Justice  of  Massachusetts,  think  him 
dangerously  ahead  of  his  time,  and  himself  dissent 
when  Mather  preached  that  the  sun,  and  not  the 
earth,  is  the  centre  of  our  system  ?  In  physic  did  he 
not  know  more  than  the  doctors  ?  Did  he  not  save 
Boston  from  the  small-pox,  when  he  could  find  but  one 
physician  in  all  the  town  that  would  try  inoculation  ?  " 


38  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Aye,  wise  he  was  in  such  ways ;  but  not  wise  in 
some  things." 

"  No  man  is  wise  in  all  things.  And  mark  me,  the 
day  will  come  when  the  foolish  will  cease  to  smile  at 
the  name  of  Cotton  Mather ;  but,  forgiving  his  errors, 
which  were  great  because  the  man  was  great,  and  his 
follies,  which  were  small  because  his  virtues  left  small 
room  for  them,  will  honor  him  and  his  noble  line." 

"  His  father  was  a  great  man." 

"  Indeed  he  was.  Whom  else  could  the  Colony 
have  sent  to  face  the  King  and  ask  back  our 
Charter?" 

"  It  is  a  far  cry  from  Rachel  Walker  to  Increase 
Mather,"  interposed  Mrs.  Crane. 

"  Aye,  it  is,"  said  Revere.  "  Listen,  madam. 
Which  would  you  say,  '  will  direct  to  the  Fair  One ' 
or  '  will  point  out  the  Fair  One '  ? " 

"How  does  it  read  now?" 

"  I  am  in  doubt  which  to  make  it.  I  first  wrote 
'  will  point  out,'  and  then  changed  it  to  '  will  direct 
to,'  but  liked  it  little  better,  so  let  both  stand." 

"'Point  out'  is  better,"  said  Crane. 

" '  Direct  to '  is  less  blunt,"  said  Mrs.   Crane. 

"There  you  go,"  said  Revere;   "and  'tis  little  help 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  39 

you  give  me  when  you  agree  not !      I'll   leave  both, 
and  cross  out  one  later." 

But  he  never  decided  which  he  liked  the  better,  so 
the  closing  couplet  stands  to-day,  as  it  did  when  he 
wrote  it :  — 

These  four,  added  together  with  great  care  and  Art, 

Will  j!  the  Fair  One  that  is  nearest  my  Heart, 

direct  to 

All  this  time  John  sat  in  the  chimney  corner  lis 
tening  with  all  his  ears.  To  sit  in  the  presence  of 
Paul  Revere  and  one  of  his  ardent  companions,  to 
hear  them  now  discuss  the  great  names  of  Colonial 
history  as  though  they  were  affairs  of  every  day, 
and  almost  in  the  same  breath  to  talk  of  love-making, 
and  to  buffet  each  other  with  innocent  and  good- 
natured  jests,  was  almost  incredible,  —  and  yet  it  was 
real.  It  was  he,  John  Farwell,  the  homeless  orphan 
boy  from  Gloucester,  who  sat  here,  pinching  himself 
to  be  sure  that  it  was  he. 

The  conversation  became  serious  when  the  Gazette 
was  brought  out  and  Adams'  letter  was  read  and  dis 
cussed. 

"There  is  no  hope  for  us,  I  tell  you,"  said  Crane, 


4<D  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

striking  the  table  so  hard  with  his  big  fist  that  the 
baby  started  in  the  cradle.  "There  is  no  help  for 
us,  save  in  a  union  of  all  the  Colonies  in  one  feder 
ated  body  capable  of  defying  the  British  Crown !  " 

"  You  speak  truly,  John,"  said  Revere.  "  Such  a 
union  must  begin  here  in  Boston ;  nay,  it  is  already 
begun  in  our  Committee  of  Correspondence.  We  must 
make  it  the  basis  of  a  union  of  the  Colonies.  From 
a  system  of  correspondence,  general  and  local,  it  is  a 
small  step  to  a  congress  that  shall  represent  all  the 
Colonies  and  act  for  them  with  authority." 

"  Boston  is  now  in  correspondence  with  every  town 
in  Massachusetts." 

"Yes,  and  Massachusetts  with  every  Colony.  The 
correspondence  represents  the  will  of  the  citizens 
gathered  in  local  town  meetings,  or  meetings  of 
Colonial  representatives.  What  we  now  need,  and  soon 
must  have,  is  a  Colonial  Congress,  wrought  out  of  the 
same  stuff  as  the  Committees  of  Correspondence." 

"  You  think  the  danger  great,  do  you  not  ? " 

"  Never  greater.  Even  in  the  days  of  the  Stamp 
Act  the  peril  was  less  than  now.  There  is  still  a 
tax  on  tea,  and  that  involves  the  principle  of  all  that 
was  in  the  Stamp  Act." 


TWO    SONS    OF    LIBERTY  4! 

The  hour  grew  late,  and  Revere  rose  to  go.  As 
he  took  his  hat  he  turned  again  to  Mrs.  Crane,  ask 
ing,  half-jestingly,  "And  do  you  like  my  poetry, 
Mistress  Crane  ?  " 

"  Very  well  indeed,"  replied  Mrs.  Crane ;  "  and  I 
like  Rachel,  also." 

"And  I,  too,  like  Rachel,"  said  Crane;  "but  Paul's 
poetry  is  not  worth  the  paper  it  is  written  on." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  retorted  Revere.  "  Many  a  ballad- 
monger  would  gladly  sell  his  lines  for  the  worth  of 
that  paper.  Mr.  Greene's  bill  is  for  twenty-four 
pounds,  fifteen  shillings." 

"  'Twould  take  much  of  such  poetry  to  be  worth 
that,"  said  Crane ;  "  and  the  less  there  is  of  it,  the 
more  it  is  worth." 

"  Such  words  might  rouse  the  ire  of  a  saint,  but 
a  man  must  expect  ill-usage  when  he  is  about  to 
marry.  Good  night,  Mistress  Crane.  You  shall  dance 
at  my  wedding.  Good  night,  Crane.  Good  night,  lad. 
You  have  a  civil  tongue  in  your  head,  which  is  more 
than  I  can  say  of  your  master." 

So,  with  a  merry  farewell,  Paul  Revere  closed  the 
door,  and  was  gone. 


CHAPTER   III 

WHAT  JOHN    SAW   IN   THE   MOONLIGHT 

"WELL,  young  man,  you'd  best  be  climbing  to 
your  bed,"  said  John  Crane  to  his  new  apprentice. 

"  I  am  ready,  sir,"  and  John  willingly  left  the 
chimney  corner,  for  he  was  tired  after  his  first  day 
in  Boston. 

"Come,  then,  and  I  will  show  you  the  way.  It  is 
not  late  yet,  but  we  rise  early  here,  and  you  will  be 
tired  with  your  walk." 

The  long  clock  on  the  stairs  was  striking  nine  as 
they  ascended.  Another  flight  of  stairs,  narrower  and 
more  given  to  turning  about  than  the  first,  and  John 
found  himself  in  the  attic. 

"  This  is  your  room,"  announced  Crane.  "  Most  of 
the  men  sleep  in  their  own  homes,  but  two  are  above 
the  shop.  I  keep  a  lad  in  the  house  to  run  errands. 
I  have  just  discharged  the  last  lad  I  had,  and  who 
had  this  room  before  you." 

42 


WHAT   JOHN    SAW    IN    THE    MOONLIGHT  43 

"  Did  he  not  do  his  work  well  ?  "  asked  John,  a 
little  fearful  for  his  own  future,  and  remembering  his 
inexperience. 

"  Aye,  his  work  was  well  done ;  but  I  could  not 
trust  him.  He  was  now  here  and  now  there,  and 
again  I  knew  not  where.  A  lad  who  comes  to  me 
must  be  steady,  aye,  and  straightforward.  You're  an 
honest  lad,  I  know." 

"  I  have  ever  been  called  so,  sir,"  John  truthfully 
answered. 

"To  be  called  so  is  one  thing,  and  to  be  so  is 
another,  but  I  know  an  honest  lad.  Still  I  thought 
the  other  honest,"  he  added  reflectively,  "  till  I  found 
he  had  deceived  me." 

"I  can  promise  you,  sir,  that  you'll  find  no  fault 
with  me  in  that  way,"  said  John.  "  I  have  yet  to 
learn  to  be  a  carpenter,  but  to  be  honest  and  frank, 
and  to  have  no  unworthy  secrets,  I  have  known  from 
my  cradle." 

"That's  well,  and  good  night.     But  stay.     Can  you 

i 
rise   early   in   the   morning?      Here's   the   key  to   the 

back  door,  and  another  to  the  shop.  You'll  be  up 
at  five,  and  bring  shavings  from  the  shop  to  light 
the  kitchen  fire.  Have  a  good  fire,  for  the  maid 


44  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

rises  soon  after  five,  and  must  have  breakfast  at  six. 
Now  mind,  I  trust  you  with  those  keys.  I  had 
vowed  not  to  trust  another  lad  after  the  one  I  dis 
charged.  I  found  him  slipping  out  and  —  but  no 
matter  about  that ;  I  can  trust  you,  I  think." 

"Yes,  sir,  you  may  trust  me,"  said  John. 

"  Now  take  another  look  at  the  stairs,  for  it  will 
be  dark  in  the  morning  when  you  rise ;  and  you'll 
have  no  light  till  you  blow  the  coals  in  the  fireplace." 

John  followed  his  master  downstairs  and  returned 
alone,  carefully  counting  the  stairs  and  noting  the 
landings.  He  reentered  his  room  a  happy  boy.  He 
had  a  situation,  he  had  made  a  favorable  impression, 
he  was  trusted !  What  more  could  he  desire  ?  He 
handled  the  keys  fondly,  rejoicing  in  the  trust  com 
mitted  to  him. 

"  It  is  a  small  trust,"  he  said,  "  but  it  shows  that 
he  believes  in  me." 

John  looked  about  his  room.  It  was  low  and 
plainly  furnished,  but  not  uncomfortable.  There  was 
a  plain  table,  a  chair,  a  bed,  and  a  great  chest  which 
served  at  once  for  a  clothes-press  and  a  seat.  The 
furniture  was  all  the  product  of  John  Crane's  shop. 
A  window  opened  toward  what  were  then  Common 


WHAT   JOHN    SAW    IN    THE    MOONLIGHT  45 

and  Nassau  Streets,  but  where  Tremont  now  runs. 
To  the  eastward  were  a  few  scattered  houses;  to  the 
south  was  the  long  irregular  Neck  that  joined  Boston 
to  the  mainland.  The  moon  was  rising  over  the  bay 
that  separated  Boston  from  Dorchester,  and  by  its 
light  he  could  see  dimly  the  Castle  on  the  island  in 
the  harbor  and  the  old  and  obsolete  fortifications, 
soon  to  be  renewed,  where  the  Neck  was  narrowest 
at  what  is  now  Dover  Street.1 

Beyond  the  narrow  gateway  of  the  Neck,  there 
was  nothing  save  a  few  .stores,  and  a  hideous,  black 
gallows.  The  whole  town  lay  to  the  north,  standing 
out  sharply  in  the  moonlight  as  the  moon  lifted 
above  the  hills  of  Dorchester,  and  shone  across  Gal 
lows  Bay. 

John   was   far    from    being    sleepy.      He   sat   long 

1  This  was  the  second  fortification  of  Boston  Neck.  The  first  was 
erected  very  soon  after  the  first  settlement  of  Boston  to  protect  the  town 
against  Indians.  After  the  disappearance  of  the  hostile  Indians  this  fell 
into  decay.  In  1710  a  more  imposing  fortification  of  brick  and  stone, 
with  a  breastwork  of  earth,  and  gates,  was  established  a  few  feet  south  of 
Dover  Street,  the  exact  location  being  discovered  in  the  digging  of  a 
drain  in  1860.  At  this  time,  and  till  long  afterward,  there  was  a  stone 
causeway  on  the  western  side  of  the  Neck,  reaching  from  the  gates 
below  Union  Park  Street.  The  third,  and  most  formidable  fortification 
of  the  Neck,  was  made  by  the  British  during  the  siege  of  Boston. 


46  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

before  the  open  window,  looking  out  upon  the  town. 

t 
The  old  clock  struck  ten ;  a  great  bell  rang ;   it  was 

long  after  bedtime,  John  knew,  but  he  was  not  sleepy. 
The  house  became  silent.  He  was  the  only  person 
awake  in  it.  But  he  still  sat  there,  looking  out  over 
the  water  at  the  town  growing  steadily  beautiful  in 
the  light  of  the  ascending  moon.  The  town  was  as 
silent  as  the  house,  save  that  he  could  hear  voices 
and  see  lights  toward  the  Liberty  Tree.  But  these 
the  intervening  houses  near  by  shut  out. 

John  was  just  beginning  to  grow  weary  when  he 
heard  footsteps.  He  looked  toward  the  Common, 
and  saw  a  young  girl  approaching.  John  wondered 
at  the  sight,  as  no  person  had  passed  along  the 
lonely  street  while  he  had  been  sitting  at  the  win 
dow.  The  girl  came  nearer,  and  even  in  the  dim 
light  John  perceived  an  attractive  girl  of  about  his 
own  age.  Just  opposite  the  house  she  paused  in 
hesitation,  and  looked  about  her. 

"I  wish  I  knew—  "  she  pondered,  half  aloud. 

John  was  so  near  that  he  heard  distinctly.  He  was 
about  to  speak,  when,  looking  up,  she  saw  him. 

"  Oh,  please,"  she  said  in  some  confusion.  "  Can 
you  tell  me  which  of  these  streets  leads  back  into 


WHAT    JOHN    SAW    IN    THE    MOONLIGHT  47 

Orange  ?  I  do  not  know  this  part  of  the  town,  and 
I  fear  to  lose  myself  in  the  Marshes." 

Now,  there  was  hardly  another  question  about  the 
geography  of  Boston  which  John  could  have  answered, 
but  the  answer  to  this  he  knew  well. 

"  Hollis  Street,  yonder,  leads  you  straight  to  Orange, 
and  Common  Street  bends  about  into  Nassau  and 
comes  into  Orange  below." 

"  I  do  not  want  to  go  straight,"  she  said. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  said  he. 

"I  came  out  of  my  way  because  there  is  a  rude 
crowd  on  Orange  Street,  and  I  feared  to  pass  them. 
These  marsh  lands  look  so  lonely,  and  I  know  them 
so  little,  that  I  am  afraid  to  go  on." 

"Wait  a  moment,"  said  John,  "and  I  will  come 
down  and  guide  you  through  to  Orange  Street." 

"  Oh,  will  you  ?  "  she  replied  eagerly,  "  I  shall  thank 
you  so  much  !  " 

He  turned  quickly,  opened  the  door  into  the  hall, 
and  in  a  moment  was  on  the  stair.  There  he  paused. 
He  had  forgotten  the  keys.  He  slipped  back  into 
his  room  for  them,  and  returned  to  the  stairs. 

The  keys !  Yes,  he  had  them ;  but  what  had  Mr. 
Crane  said  to  him  ?  He  had  taken  those  keys  away 


48  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

from  a  lad  whom  he  could  not  trust  with  them,  and 
had  given  them  to  John. 

"  But  I  shall  only  be  gone  a  moment,"  said  John  to 
himself,  "and  I  am  sure  he  would  wish  me  to  do  this." 

He  hurried  down  the  second-story  stairs,  past  the 
door  of  Mr.  Crane's  room.  It  would  only  take  a 
moment  to  tell  him  of  the  intended  trip  —  but  why 
should  he  wake  him  ?  The  girl  was  waiting  outside ; 
she  would  think  John  slow  in  coming ;  she  was  afraid  ! 
He  would  protect  her.  The  self-conscious,  half-boast 
ful,  and  ever  reckless  joy  which  the  strong  feel  in  the 
exhibition  of  courage  in  the  presence  of  the  weak 
was  in  John's  blood.  He  slipped  down  the  second 
stairs,  which  seemed  to  creak  more  than  the  first  one, 
—  down  past  the  great  clock  ticking  so  loudly  that 
John  felt  sure  of  its  trying  to  tell  upon  him,  and  so 
down  to  the  foot  of  the  stair. 

He  stumbled  over  a  chair  in  the  living-room.  The 
door  creaked  as  he  entered  the  kitchen.  It  would 
have  been  pitch-dark  had  not  the  fire,  smouldering 
under  the  ashes  shovelled  over  it,  glowed  a  dull,  gray 
red  that  matched  the  blush,  struggling  in  his  cheeks, 
occasioned  half  through  a  sense  of  guilt,  and  half 
through  chivalry  asserting  itself. 


WHAT  JOHN  SAW  IN  THE  MOONLIGHT        49 

He  fumbled  with  the  keys.  He  tried  the  wrong 
one  first.  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  made  more  noise 
than  the  whole  of  John  Crane's  carpenter  shop  could 
make.  The  door  opened  noiselessly,  —  that  was  so 
much,  at  least,  to  be  thankful  for,  —  and  John  was  out 
side.  He  stopped  to  lock  the  door,  trying  his  best  to 
do  so  in  silence,  and  keeping  in  the  shadow  of  the 
house,  stole  along  its  side  to  the  street. 


CHAPTER   IV 

NIGHT   SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON 

STRANGE  are  the  freaks  which  conscience  plays 
with  us !  While  John  Farwell  was  in  the  shadow  of 
the  house,  slipping  along  in  fear  of  being  called  back, 
he  felt  like  a  criminal.  But  the  moment  he  passed 
out  into  the  moonlight,  out  of  sight  of  John  Crane's 
window,  and  into  the  presence  of  the  young  lady 
waiting  for  him  at  the  gate,  he  felt  himself  a  hero. 

"Thus  conscience  doth  make  cowards  of  us  all," 
and  sometimes,  also,  makes  us  unreasonably  heroic. 

"Oh,  I  thank  you  so  much  for  coming  with  me," 
said  a  pleasant  voice ;  and  at  that  sound  John's  mis 
givings  vanished. 

"  I  am  glad  to  serve  you,"  said  John.  "  It  is  not  a 
pleasant  time  for  young  ladies  to  be  out  alone." 

"No,  and  I  would  not  have  come,  had  it  not  been 
necessary.  I  seek  Nurse  Goodwin." 

"  I  do  not  know  her,"  said  John.  "  I  have  but 
lately  come  here." 

50 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  5  1 

"  I  know  her,  and  know  her  house,"  she  answered. 
"She  lives  on  Orange  Street.  I  could  have  gone 
there  straight,  but  I  feared  the  crowd  at  Essex  Street 
above,  and  came  around,  and  so  lost  myself." 

John  could  hardly  refrain  from  telling  her  that 
he  was  glad  she  had  lost  her  way,  but  he  asked 
instead,  — 

"  Have  you  sickness  at  home  ?  " 

"  My  father  is  ill,"  the  girl  replied.  "  Perhaps  you 
know  him,  Mr.  Goodrich.  He  lives  on  Ann  Street.1 
My  name  is  Prudence  Goodrich." 

"  I  doubt  not  I  shall  know  your  father  when  I 
have  been  here  longer,  but  I  am  new  to  Boston," 
said  John. 

"  O,  every  one  in  Boston  knows  my  father,"  replied 
Prudence.  "  He  keeps  a  shop  on  Middle  Street." 

"  Is  he  very  ill  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  I  pray  not  ;  yet  he  suffered  great  pain.  My 
mother  is  much  concerned  for  him,  for  she  sent  Joan, 
our  black  servant,  at  once  for  the  doctor.  But  the 
doctor  delayed  to  come,  and  my  mother  grew  more 
anxious,  for  my  father  became  worse.  She  longed 


North   Street,   and   a  squalid  thoroughfare,   but  then   in   the 
fashionable   part  of  town. 


52  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

for  Nurse  Goodwin,  who  cares  always  for  us  when 
we  are  sick,  and  I  would  come  for  her." 

"Is  it  far?"  asked  John. 

"  It  is  so  long  a  way  that  mother  desired  me  not 
to  come,  yet  I  was  ever  venturesome.  My  father 
calls  me  '  Im-prudence,' "  she  added  with  a  little 
laugh. 

"We  are  nearing  Orange  Street,  I  think,"  said 
John ;  "  we  must  be  near  the  house." 

"  It  is  close  by,"  said  Prudence.  "  I  see  it.  Mother 
will  be  so  glad  to  have  Nurse  Goodwin  come  to  my 
poor  father.  She  only  half  consented  to  my  coming, 
but  I  would  come.  I  could  not  bear  to  see  my  father 
suffer,  and  I  do  nothing." 

They  pushed  open  a  low  gate  before  a  cottage 
near  Castle  Street,  and  entered  a  yard  where  mari 
golds,  bachelor's-buttons,  and  primroses  still  presented 
a  bold  front  to  the  impending  frosts ;  while  further 
back  grew  thoroughwort,  catnip,  and  other  herbs. 

"  I  believe  I  have  taken  some  of  every  herb  in 
this  garden,"  laughed  Prudence,  "  save  only  the 
flowers ;  and  I  am  not  sure  that  she  does  not  mix 
in  some  of  them  at  times,  when  her  wort  runs  short." 

"  If  you  have  had  all  save  the  flowers,"  said   John, 


THIS  ONE  MUST  HAVE  BLOOMED  ON  PURPOSE  FOR  YOU.' 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  53 

"'tis  time  you  had  the  only  pleasant  dose  which  the 
garden  affords.  Which  flower  will  you  have  ? " 

"  Oh,  thank  you,"  she  replied,  "  I  have  had  enough 
of  Dame  Goodwin's  medicine  to  last — " 

"  It  is  not  as  medicine  that  I  would  prescribe  it," 
interposed  John.  "  Come,  I  will  pluck  you  a  flower !  " 

He  knelt  beside  the  path,  and  plucked  from  a  little 
bush  a  single  rose,  just  bursting  out  of  bud. 

"  It  is  late  for  roses,"  he  said;  "this  one  must  have 
bloomed  on  purpose  for  you." 

"  Ah,  I  fear  you  have  incurred  the  ill-will  of  Dame 
Goodwin,  for  that  well  may  be  the  first  bud  on  the 
late-blooming  rose  I  gave  her  in  the  spring.  She  told 
me  it  was  very  backward  at  first,  and  she  feared  it 
would  die.  It  seems  to  have  started  afresh  just  in 
time  to  meet  the  frost." 

"  'Tis  a  mercy  to  save  it  from  the  frost,"  laughed 
John,  as  he  took  the  knocker  and  struck  it  hard 
against  the  brass  plate. 

A  dog  barking  within  was  the  only  answer. 

John  knocked  once  more.  Again  there  was  silence, 
save  only  for  the  louder  barking  of  the  dog. 

"  Oh,  I  fear  she  is  not  at  home,"  said  Prudence. 
"  She  has  shut  up  Fido  in  the  house  to  frighten  off 


54  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

any  Redcoat  that  comes  plundering  over  from  the 
Castle,  and  has  gone  to  see  some  sick  one." 

"  I  am  so  sorry  that  you  do  not  find  her,"  sympa 
thetically  spoke  John.  "  Have  you  any  thought  where 
to  look  for  her  ?  " 

"  No,  no !  she  nurses  all  about  the  town.  I  never 
thought  but  I  should  find  her.  I  must  hasten  home. 
I  am  so  sorry !  " 

"Then  I  must  see  you  home,"  said  John. 

"Thank  you,"  replied  she. 

They  retraced  their  steps,  walking  rapidly  toward 
the  town.  As  they  came  up  Orange. Street  the  noise 
of  a  gathering  ahead  was  heard  distinctly. 

"  Let  us  go  back  the  way  we  came,"  said  she. 

They  turned  up  Common  Street,  passed  by  John 
Crane's  door.  John  saw  his  own  window  still  open 
in  the  gable,  and  his  heart  smote  him  a  little,  but 
all  was  silent. 

"You  may  stop  in,  if  you  like,"  said  Prudence. 
"  I  can  find  my  way  alone,  now."  But  she  knew 
that  John  would  not  do  it,  and  John  well  knew  that 
she  did  not  desire  it. 

They  passed  on  to  the  borders  of  the  Common. 

"  You  must  guide  me  here,"  said  John ;  "  for  I 
know  the  way  no  farther." 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  55 

"  I  will  tell  you  the  way,  for  I  know  it  well.  This 
is  Common  Street  still ;  but  above  it  becomes  Tre- 
mont.  A  few  years  ago  there  were  no  houses  here, 
but  now  there  are  many.  There  are  twenty  houses 
along  the  street  from  Frog  Lane  to  King's  Chapel." 

"  But  the  land  fronting  the  Common  still  is  vacant." 

"Yes,  save  for  the  haystand,  and  the  grammar 
school  here  at  West  Street." 

"This  is  not  the  Latin  School?" 

"  No ;  that  is  beyond.  Here  stood  the  old  whip 
ping-post  and  pillory  after  they  were  removed  from 
King  Street.  They  do  less  whipping  now  than  in 
old  days." 

"  Because  they  need  it  less  ? " 

"  Nay,  because  they  dare  not  give  it !  If  I  were 
a  man,  I  would  find  many  who  have  need  to  stand 
there ;  and  would  begin  my  search  for  them  right 
near  the  Province  House." 

"If  you  talk  like  that  to  your  father,"  said  John, 
"  I  do  not  wonder  that  he  gives  you  the  name  Impru 
dence." 

"  Aye,  and  I  rather  glory  in  it.  Prudence,  indeed ! 
The  whole  Colony  would  have  been  free  long  ere 
this  but  for  what  they  call  prudence !  Why  should 


56  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

the  securing  of  our  liberties  be  left  to  the  rabble, 
while  the  well-to-do  people  stand  aloof  for  prudence' 
sake  ?  Ah,  but  I  like  John  Hancock,  who,  being  a 
rich  man,  prefers  to  risk  his  property  and  reputation 
rather  than  submit  to  the  injustice  which  we  suffer." 

"  There  is  little  of  the  Tory  about  you,"  said  John. 

"  Is  there  any  about  you  ? "  asked  Prudence,  step 
ping  away  from  him. 

"  Not  a  drop  of  Tory  blood  is  in  my  veins,"  said 
John.  "  I  come  of  a  race  of  fishermen  who  all  these 
years  have  fought  for  our  rights  at  the  Banks." 

"You  have  little  of  the  broad  speech  of  the  fisher- 
folk." 

"Yet  I  am  from  Gloucester." 

"It  is  broadest  there.  They  talk  of  a  'mawst,'  do 
they  not,  when  they  mean  a  mast?" 

"Yes,  but  my  mother  was  a  lady.  She  married 
my  father,  —  there  is  a  long  story  about  it,  —  but  she 
taught  me  much  in  the  long  days  and  longer  nights 
when  my  father  was  away.  I  have  been  much  at 
sea,  but  I  have  learned  much  from  my  mother,  who 
now  is  dead." 

"  Your  mother  is  dead  ?  " 

"Yes,   and    my   father    too.      He    died    first.      My 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  57 

mother,  who  had  left  all  else  in  life  for  his  sake, 
died  the  sooner  for  his  death.  She  still  longed  to  live 
for  my  sake,  but  it  was  a  longing  divided  with  an 
other  to  be  with  him.  I  sometimes  think  she  never 
really  lived  again  after  they  brought  home  the 
drowned  body  of  my  father." 

"Was  he  like  you?" 

"  He  was  brave  and  true,  aye,  and  he  could  be 
tender,  though  his  voice  was  strong  and  his  hand  was 
rough.  John  Farwell  was  his  name  —  I  am  named 
for  him.  He  knew  little  of  books,  but  much  of 
men.  He  loved  an  honest  man,  and  worshipped  all 
good  women,  most  of  all  my  mother.  A  bad  man  he 
hated,  and  a  bad  woman  —  I  think  he  never  allowed 
himself  to  believe  that  there  could  be  one.  Had  he 
believed  it  possible,  I  know  not  whether  he  would 
have  loathed  her,  or  have  laid  down  his  life  to  win 
her  back  to  goodness.  One  of  the  two  he  would 
done.  He  knew  no  middle  ground.  It  was  a  sad 
day  when  we  buried  him.  Here  is  a  burying-ground. 
I  never  pass  one  but  I  think  of  him  and  of  my 
mother." 

"This  is  a  famous  burying-ground,  the  Granary. 
Beneath  yon  raised  slab  two  governors  rest.  The  vie- 


58  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

tims  of  what  we  call  the  "Boston  Massacre"  lie  yonder. 
Near  them  is  Christopher  Snyder,  whose  death  caused 
theirs.  Chief-Justice  Sewall  lies  yonder.  He  was  a 
great  man.  Mint-master  Hull,  his  father-in-law,  who 
coined  the  first  New  England  money,  lies  there." 

"Those  are  great  names.  Will  there  be  names  as 
great,  think  you,  of  those  now  living,  and  to  be  buried 
there  ? " 

"  I  am  sure  I  do  not  know.  To  us,  in  our  own  day, 
the  men  now  living  seem  small  beside  the  great  men 
dead.  But  Adams,  Warren,  Faneuil,  Hancock,  and 
Paul  Revere  may  yet  be  buried  there,  —  they  must  be 
buried  somewhere,  I  suppose,  —  and  to  those  who 
come  after  us  their  names  may  be  as  great  as  those 
of  old." 

"They  will,  if  they  are  as  true  to  their  duties." 

i 
"  But  it  is  hard  to  know  one's  duty  in    such   times 

as  these." 

"  It  is,  indeed,  but  we  have  wise  leaders." 

"  Yes ;    but   so   many   of    the    men    of    wealth   and 

social   standing   care   little   for  our  liberties,    and   are 

content   in   their   prosperity   while    the    people   suffer 

under  unjust  laws." 

"  Are  there  many  Tories  in  Boston  ? " 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  59 

"  Many  indeed,  but  many  patriots,  also." 

They  had  passed  the  burying-ground,  and  were 
nearing  Beacon  Street,  known  in  old  days  as  "the 
Lane  that  leads  to  the  poorhouse "  —  a  singularly 
inappropriate  name  for  it  in  later  years.  Beyond  it, 
on  Tremont  Street,  stood  a  fine  residence  on  the  lot 
once  owned  by  Governor  Bellingham. 

"  Yonder  is  the  house  of  Peter  Faneuil,  who  gave 
the  Hall  to  the  town,"  said  Prudence. 

"  I  have  often  heard  of  him,"  said  John,  "  and  of 
the  Hall,  and  of  the  quaint  vane  upon  the  top." 

"  The  grasshopper  ?  Yes,  it  is  quaint.  The  man 
who  made  it  made  also  the  cockerel  on  the  spire  of 
our  church." 

"What  church  is  that?" 

"It  is  called  the  Cockerel  Church,  from  its  vane. 
Dr.  Mather  is  the  minister,  but  my  father  likes  him 
little,  for  he  is  outspoken  against  the  King." 

"  Your  father  is  a  Loyalist  ?  " 

"  Yes,  as  most  of  the  men  of  property.  But  I  am 
a  born  rebel.  My  father  chides  me  daily  for  it. 
But  why  should  we,  who  are  both  English  and  Ameri 
can,  be  ruled  by  King  George,  who  is  neither,  but  a 
proper  German,  and  a  right  poor  one  at  that?" 


6O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"You   say   well   that    there    is   little    of    the    Tory 
about  you,"  laughed  John. 

"  Alas,"  said  Prudence,  "  I  fear  that  my  sentiments 
are  a  thorn  in  my  good  father's  flesh,  and  I  wonder 
that  he  still  loves  me.  But  he  does,  and  I  truly 
love  him,  and  try  to  do  a  daughter's  duty.  Ours 
is  one  of  many  homes  where  the  older  people  are 
Loyalists  and  the  boys  and  girls  are  for  liberty." 
"What  is  that  low,  odd-looking  building?" 
"That  is  King's  Chapel,  the  meeting-house  which 
Andros  built.  My  father  talks  of  going  thither  from 
Dr.  Mather's,  but  I  have  no  heart  to  go.  They  mean 
to  build  a  spire  upon  it  one  day,  but  they  are  long 
about  it." 

"What  is  that  brick  building  across  from  it?" 
"That  is  the   Latin  School.     Behind   the  Chapel  is 
Master   Lovell's    house.      We  will    go    here   through 
School  Street.     Yonder  is  the  Cromwell's   Head  Tav 
ern.     It   is   a   famous   place.     Have   you   heard   of   a 
young   Virginia   colonel    named    George   Washington  ? 
He   was   in    Boston,    a    few   years    ago,    and   stopped 
there.     So  do  many  of  the  noted  men." 
"What  meeting-house  is  that  ahead?" 
"  It  is  the  Old  South,  a  famous  spot,  and  famous, 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  6l 

too,  for  its  political  gatherings.  When  Faneuil  Hall 
overflows,  they  gather  here." 

"I  know  well  of  the  Old  South.  And  that  build 
ing  across  must  be  the  Province  House  ? " 

"  Yes.  How  they  glare  at  each  other  in  the  moon 
light  !  " 

"  You  have  a  vivid  fancy !  " 

"Yes,  I  sometimes  think  that  the  royal  governors 
may  well  hear  the  Old  South  bell  as  though  it  rang 
the  knell  of  tyranny  in  America.  On  the  opposite 
corner  lived  Anne  Hutchinson,  great-grandmother  to 
our  governor." 

"  Aye,  and  I  wish  they  had  banished  him  with 
her ! " 

"  Poor  man,  I  pity  him !  I  saw  him  lately  walk 
from  his  great  house  in  North  Square  to  his  family 
tomb  on  Copp's  Hill.  Long  he  sat  before  it,  looking 
down  at  the  arms  of  his  family  cut  deep  in  the  stone  ; 
and  it  seemed  to  me  the  poor  old  man  felt  that  he 
had  little  else  left  on  earth,  save  what  was  in  that 
grave,  and  that  he  fain  would  lay  him  there."  1 

1  The  Hutchinson  tomb  may  still  be  seen  in  Copp's  Hill  burying- 
ground.  Its  coat  of  arms  is  finely  chiselled,  and  the  slab  upon  the  top  is 
in  a  fine  state  of  preservation.  Governor  Hutchinson  died  in  exile,  and 


62  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  I  never  thought  to  pity  him,"  said  John. 

"  He  may  be  bad  enough,  though  my  father  con 
tends  that  he  will  be  remembered  as  the  wisest  and 
most  learned  of  all  the  governors  of  the  Province. 
He  thinks,  too,  that  his  statesmanship  in  these 
troublous  times  is  great,  but  I  think  him  too  weak 
and  fickle  to  be  great." 

They  turned  from  Marlborough  Street,  which  now 
became  Cornhill,  into  King  Street,  and  passed  the 
Town  House.1 

was  buried  in  England.  His  father  and  grandfather  and  other  members 
of  his  family  were  buried  here.  To  the  former,  Boston  is  indebted  for  its 
very  first  school,  —  a  school  which  ought  to  bear  his  name,  but  which,  in 
stead,  is  named  the  Eliot  School  The  Hutchinson  name  has  disappeared 
from  the  tomb  itself  and  the  relics  of  the  Hutchinsons  were  long  since 
removed  and  placed  no  one  knows  where.  The  tomb  now  bears  another 
name,  "T.  Lewis."  The  man  whose  name  is  upon  the  tomb  may  have 
come  by  it  innocently  enough,  and  his  name  is  given  here  only  for  the 
purpose  of  identifying  the  grave.  But  if  the  name  of  the  vandal  who  rifled 
the  tomb  could  be  known,  it  would  deserve  to  be  published  here  and 
everywhere  and  so  be  held  up  to  everlasting  contempt.  Whatever  indi 
vidual  did  the  wrong,  the  public  sentiment  of  an  age  that  allowed  it  is 
not  blameless.  Spite  of  all  his  wrongs  and  follies,  Thomas  Hutchinson 
deserved  at  least  pity,  and  a  share  in  the  honor  that  belongs  to  his  name. 
Nor,  after  all  his  errors  have  been  conceded,  can  it  be  allowed  that  the 
severe  judgment  of  his  own  generation  upon  him  was  wholly  just. 

1  The  old  Cornhill  was  not  the  present  Cornhill,  but  a  part  of  Washing 
ton  Street.     King  Street  is  now  State. 


NIGHT    SCENES    IN    OLD    BOSTON  63 

"  Across  the  street  yonder,"  said  Prudence,  "  stood 
the  first  meeting-house  in  Boston,  and  here,"  —  she 
stepped  a  little  toward  the  middle  of  the  street, — 
"just  here  occurred  the  Boston  Massacre." 

"The  Boston  Massacre!"  cried  John.  "It  fires 
one's  blood  to  stand  here !  " 

"  Just  where  you  stand,"  said  she,  "  stood  Crispus 
Attucks,  the  leader,  and  the  first  man  killed." 

"  The  blood  of  that  night,"  exclaimed  John,  "  can 
never  be  atoned  for,  save  by  the  freedom  of  our 
Commonwealth ! " 

"I  sometimes  think  so,"  said  Prudence;  "but 
alas,  there  may  be  sad  times  before  that  comes  to 
pass." 

"  It  makes  one  feel,  to  stand  here,  how  cruel  and 
unmotherly  is  that  which  we  call  the  mother  coun 
try,"  said  John. 

"  It  were  easy  to  say  that  unjustly,"  said  Prudence. 
"  The  whole  of  the  mother  country  must  not  be 
blamed  for  the  act  of  a  few  mad  soldiers." 

"  No,  but  the  policy  that  sent  them  here  may  be 
blamed." 

"  You  should  talk  with  my  father  about  that,"  said 
Prudence.  "  He  would  make  a  Loyalist  of  you,  or 


64  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

make  you  the  stronger  rebel,"  she  added,  with  a 
laugh,  "  I  know  not  which.  See,  here  is  Faneuil 
Hall." 

"  Ah,  I  have  heard  often  of  this  building,"  said 
John.  "  I  may  yet  go  within  it." 

"  Often,  I  make  no  doubt,  for  it  is  much  in  use 
these  days.  Yonder  is  the  old  Sun  Tavern,  and  up 
yon  court  the  old  inn,  which,  though  once  or  more 
rebuilt,  has  been  in  existence  almost  from  the  found 
ing  of  Boston.  Sir  Harry  Vane  entertained  there  the 
great  chief  Miantonomoh  and  his  braves.  It  has  no 
proper  name  now,  but  they  are  to  call  it  '  The  Han 
cock  Tavern.' ' 

They  quickened  their  steps  upon  entering  Ann 
Street,  and  soon  were  at  the  door. 

"  I  hope  that  my  father  is  better,"  Prudence  said. 

"  I  will  wait  at  the  door  a  moment,"  said  John, 
and  see  if  I  can  be  of  any  service." 

They  stopped  before  a  large  and  fine  house,  though 
somewhat  less  imposing  than  many  that  then  stood 
in  the  court  end  of  Boston.  John  stood  in  the  little 
Colonial  veranda,  while  Prudence  hastened  inside. 
She  came  back  soon. 

"The  doctor  is  within,"  she  said;  "we  know  noth- 


NIGHT  SCENES  IN  OLD  BOSTON          65 

ing  yet  There  is  nothing  that  we  can  do,  and  I 
need  not  trouble  you  further.  I  thank  you  for  your 
kindness." 

"  You  are  most  welcome,"  responded  John.  "  It 
has  been  pleasant  to  me  to  meet  you." 

"  You  must  call  upon  us,"  said  Prudence.  "  My 
mother  will  wish  to  thank  you  for  your  goodness 
to  me  to-night,  and  I  hope  to  know  you  better, 
though  —  " 

"Though  —  ?" 

"Though  we  seem  already  to  know  each  other 
very  well." 

"  I  shall  certainly  call  soon.  And  I  hope  to  learn 
that  your  father  is  better.  Good  night." 

"Good  night." 

F 


CHAPTER  V 

A   LIBERTY   TREE    MEETING 

JOHN  turned  from  the  door  of  Mr.  Goodrich  with 
a  light  heart.  He  had  made  a  pleasant  acquaintance, 
had  been  of  service  to  a  girl  who  needed  his  pro 
tection,  and  had  enjoyed  a  most  interesting  view  of 
Boston  by  moonlight.  But  he  must  hasten  home,  if 
he  expected  to  be  up  at  five  o'clock.  He  walked 
rapidly  along  Marlborough  Street  into  Orange,  and 
straight  down  the  main  thoroughfare  toward  the 
Neck.  He  did  not  turn  into  Tremont  Street,  partly 
because  he  desired  to  see  a  new  street,  and  partly 
because  he  wished  to  pass  the  gathering  for  which 
Prudence  had  turned  aside.  As  he  neared  Essex 
Street,  he  saw  lights  and  heard  voices.  A  nearer 
approach  brought  him  into  the  outskirts  of  a  crowd 
under  the  Liberty  Tree. 

Several  lanterns  hung  from  the  branches  of  the 
Tree,  and  several  more  were  held  by  men  in  the 

66 


A     LIBERTY    TREE    MEETING.  6/ 

crowd.  By  the  light  of  these  and  the  moon,  John 
viewed  the  company.  For  the  most  part,  it  was  com 
posed  of  apprentices  like  himself.  A  few  grown  men 
were  there ;  and  one  was  on  his  feet  haranguing  a 
crowd,  consisting  of  perhaps  a  hundred  men  and 
boys. 

John  moved  slowly  around  this  audience,  listening 
meantime  to  the  small,  slender,  nervous  man,  with 
light  complexion  and  freckles,  who  was  addressing 
the  meeting. 

"What  wait  we  for?"  he  asked.  "Have  we  not 
suffered  enough  ?  How  much  more  do  we  mean  to 
endure  ?  We  sit  quietly  sipping  our  tea,  congratulat 
ing  ourselves  that  the  threepence  a  pound  is  so  small, 
and  allow  them  to  impose  a  tax  that  involves  all  the 
vicious  principle  of  the  Stamp  Act.  Why  do  we  not 
act  as  we  did  eight  years  ago  ? " 

A  shout  of  approval  interrupted  the  speaker. 

"  Eight  years  ago !  Aye,  eight  years  ago !  And 
well  may  we  remember  the  day.  For  eight  years 
since  we  have  celebrated  it  with  joy, — the  twenty-sixth 
of  August.  But  our  interest  dies,  and  within  eight 
years !  Yet  on  that  day  did  we  not  strike  a  grand 
blow  for  liberty  ?  " 


68  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

There  was  a  chorus  of  cheers,  and  a  cry  of  "Tell 
us  about  it !  " 

"Aye,  gladly  will  I  tell  of  it,  for  the  memory  so 
soon  dies  out.  We  met  under  this  tree,  on  this  very 
spot !  We  vowed  here  that  the  stamps  should  never 
be  sold.  We  proceeded  to  Mackerel  Lane,  where  the 
contemptible  Oliver  had  erected  his  stamp  office. 
We  tore  it  into  kindling-wood,  and  gathering  it  in 
armfuls,  bore  it  to  his  house  on  Fort  Hill,  burned  it 
before  his  door,  and  hung  him  in  effigy  to  this 
Liberty  Tree.  So  be  it  ever  to  tyrants  !  " 

There  was  a  wild  cheer  at  this. 

"What  did  we  next?" 

"  It  should  shame  you  to  tell,"  cried  one  voice. 
There  was  a  small  disturbance  where  the  voice  was 
heard ;  a  number  of  men  attempting  to  put  out  the 
intruder,  but  the  disturbance  ceased  and  the  speaker 
proceeded. 

"  Shame  me  to  tell?  But  I  will  tell,  and  that  with  no 
shame,  but  with  honest  pride  that  I  had  a  share  in  it." 

"  Who  is  he  ? "  asked  'John  of  the  boy  next  to 
him.  John  had  given  up  all  thought  of  going  on. 
The  lad  turned,  and  by  the  dim  light  John  recog 
nized  Tom  Lawson. 


A     LIBERTY    TREE    MEETING  69 

"  It  is  Captain  Mackintosh,"  said  Tom,  "  and  he 
is  a  hero." 

"What  has  he  done?"  asked  John. 

"  I  will  tell  you  later.     Listen  !     He  begins  again !  " 

"  Men  blame  us  for  what  we  did  next,"  said  Mack 
intosh.  "  Well,  let  them  blame  us !  It  was  I  that 
did  it,  —  aye,  me  and  my  chickens !  " 

"  We  are  the  chickens,"  cried  many  voices,  "  and  a 
fine  old  fighting  cock  is  our  Captain ! " 

"  Ah,  my  chickens,"  he  said,  almost  tenderly.  Then 
again  resuming  his  fiery  harangue :  "  What  we  did  is 
what  we  should  do  again !  They  blame  us  because 
we  forced  the  house  of  Tommy  Hutchinson !  Aye  ! 
let  them  blame  us !  They  blame  us  that  we  scat 
tered  his  papers  whereof  he  made  history !  We'll 
make  history  better  than  that  which  flows  from  his 
sputtering  pen !  Aye,  and  of  what  account  is  the 
history  of  the  past,  if  we  match  it  not  with  deeds 
worthy  of  our  fathers?  They  left  home  and  friends 
for  liberty's  sake,  and  we  — !  We  !  We  count  it  a 
sacrifice,  if  we  give  up  tea!  They  starved  to  death 
for  conscience'  sake,  and  we  — !  God  pity  the  times 
in  which  we  live  !  We  sit  in  our  comfortable  homes 
and  live  in  plenty,  while  the  heel  of  oppression  grinds 


JTO  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

into  our  neck !  They  braved  the  storms  of  winter 
and  the  fury  of  devils.  We !  We  see  the  Redcoats 
shoot  down  our  men  in  King  Street !  We  see  our 
commerce  go,  and  our  fisheries  languish,  and  our  un 
worthy  Governor  — 

There  was  a  howl  of  rage  that  made  it  impossible 
to  go  on  for  a  full  minute. 

"  Aye,  our  Governor !  God  save  the  mark !  Who 
would  have  thought  eight  years  ago  that  the  cring 
ing,  fleeing,  cowardly  Tommy  Hutchinson  would  live 
to  be  governor  of  Massachusetts  Bay?  And  we  sit 
idly  while  he  sends  his  treasonable  letters  to  London ! 
Lads,  those  letters  have  been  found !  They  have 
been  sent  to  Boston  !  Who  found  them  ?  Ben  Frank 
lin  !  Who  has  them  ?  Sam  Adams !  Aye,  and  you 
shall  read  them !  Before  a  month  goes  by,  you  shall 
see  them  in  print,  and  see  how  the  craven  wretch  that 
sits  in  yonder  Province  House  has  betrayed  our 
liberties ! " 

The  company  by  this  time  was  little  better  than  a 
mob.  It  was  a  long  time  before  Mackintosh  could 
go  on.  One  or  two  men  whispered  to  him,  and  when 
he  proceeded,  it  was  in  a  calmer  tone. 

"Lads,    I    speak   with   too    much    intensity.      It   is 


A     LIBERTY    TREE    MEETING  J\ 

meet  that  we  save  our  senses  for  a  struggle  yet  to 
come.  We  know  not  yet  what  news  awaits  us,  but 
we  know  that  in  the  tax  on  tea  is  involved  all  the 
cursed  injustice  of  the  Stamp  Act.  And  we  know 
that  perilous  times  are  ahead.  The  twenty-sixth  of 
August  passed  this  year  with  little  notice.  But  the 
fifth  of  November  comes !  When  that  day  comes, 
we  shall  meet  here  again.  And  the  North  End,  which 
once  was  our  rival,  shall  now  be  our  ally.  We  shall 
know  no  North  End  and  no  South  End,  but  one 
town,  and  one  Colony,  and  one  federated  group  of 
Colonies  protesting  against  the  wrong  which  we 
suffer  at  the  hands  of  the  British  Government !  " 

They  sang  a  song,  a  long,  doggerel  composition,  in 
which  Lord  North  and  Governor  Hutchinson  were 
spoken  of  in  no  pleasant  terms,  and  in  which  hard 
words  served  in  lieu  of  wit.  Then  the  lights  went 
out,  and  the  company  scattered  in  silence. 

"  I  will  walk  with  you  to  the  Common,"  said  Tom  ; 
and  he  and  John  disappeared  together. 

"  How  did  you  like  Captain  Mackintosh  ? "  asked  Tom. 

"An  earnest  man,  but  —  " 

"But  what?" 

"  But  an  unsafe  leader,  I  was  about  to  say." 


72  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that.  Our  safety  is  in  a 
bold  front.  No  man  is  more  bold  than  he.  When 
they  arrested  him  —  " 

"When  was  that?" 

"After  the  Stamp  Riot.  He  never  quailed.  He 
was  like  a  lion  at  bay.  And  the  officers  gave  him 
up  without  trial  because  they  feared  to  try  him." 

"What  did  they  fear?" 

"  They  feared  an  outbreak  of  the  people ;  for  they 
knew  that  Mackintosh  would  never  yield,  and  the 
people  would  support  him  to  the  end." 

"  Do  you  often  meet  here  ? " 

"Aye,  whenever  I  can.  They  hold  the  meetings 
at  no  regular  time.  A  flag  upon  the  pole  means  that 
there  will  be  a  meeting  at  night.  That  signal  quickly 
brings  a  crowd.  Did  you  notice  there  was  no  flag 
on  the  pole  when  you  came  by  this  afternoon  ?  Well, 
one  was  hung  up  at  sunset,  and  you  saw  the  crowd." 

"Is  it  often  larger?" 

"  Oh  yes,  often  much  larger.  It  was  talk  of  the 
Governor's  letters  that  brought  us  together.  They 
are  to  be  published  soon.  There  will  be  larger  meet 
ings  then,  both  here  and  at  the  North  End  caucus. 
I  go  there  often.  You  must  go  with  me  sometime. 


A     LIBERTY    TREE    MEETING  73 

Where  will  you  go  to  meeting  Sunday  ?  Come  to  the 
Old  South.  I'll  be  there,  and  show  you  to  some  of 
the  boys.  Good  night." 

"  Good  night,"  said  John,  and  turned  homeward. 

What  a  day  it  had  been !  It  did  not  seem  possible 
that  so  much  had  happened  since  morning  when  he 
left  Lexington,  a  homeless  boy.  His  acquaintance 
with  Tom  Lawson,  which  promised  an  introduction 
to  the  boys  of  Boston  ;  his  home  with  John  Crane ; 
his  meeting  with  Paul  Revere ;  his  adventure  with 
Prudence ;  his  presence  at  a  Liberty  Tree  meeting,  — • 
and  all  in  one  day ! 

Yes,  and  the  day  was  not  yet  over,  John  remem 
bered  with  a  guilty  feeling.  He  had  still  to  make  his 
way  into  the  house.  When  he  had  left,  it  had  been 
with  the  thought  of  going  only  so  far  as  Orange 
Street  and  back ;  and  that,  had  he  been  discovered, 
would  have  been  easy  to  explain.  But  this  long 
absence  was  different.  It  was  late,  also.  Even  as 
the  noisy  gate,  seemingly  determined  to  betray  him, 
clicked  together,  the  church  bells  rang  out  the  stroke 
of  twelve.  Ah,  what  excuse  could  he  give  for  an 
absence  like  this  ?  And  what  if  he  had  spoiled  this 
greatest  of  all  days  he  had  ever  known  by  an  act 


74  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

of  inexcusable  folly?  He  remembered  the  words  of 
Crane,  —  "I  can  trust  you,  I  think,"  —  and  they 
smote  him  to  the  heart.  He  felt  like  a  housebreaker 
as  he  placed  the  key  in  the  door.  He  trembled  with 
a  fear  that  was  strange  to  him  as  he  crossed  the 
living  room  floor ;  the  stairs  creaked  beneath  him  as 
if  he  were  a  criminal ;  the  clock  on  the  stairs,  a 
minute  or  two  behind  those  of  the  town,  gave  a 
rustling,  rasping  noise  as  he  passed  that  almost  made 
him  scream  in  terror,  and  immediately  after  began  to 
strike.  John  actually  started  to  run  from  it  up  the 
stairs,  till  he  remembered  that  it  must  be  striking 
twelve.  Pale  as  a  ghost,  and  quivering  from  head 
to  foot  with  consciousness  of  guilt,  reproaching  him 
self  with  all  real  and  imaginary  sins  of  omission  and 
commission,  he  gained  the  head  of  the  stairs  and  started 
to  pass  the  door  of  Crane.  Another  minute  and  he 
would  be  in  his  own  room.  "  God  forgive  me  this  time," 
he  almost  sobbed,  "and  I  will  never  do  it  again!" 

That  moment  the  door  opened,  and  John  Crane 
stood  before  him  in  his  nightcap,  and  with  a  frown 
which  the  boy  felt,  for  he  could  not  see  it,  terrible 
in  the  darkness. 

"  Young  man  !  "  he  thundered,  "  I  will  take  those 
keys ! " 


CHAPTER  VI 

A    CHEERLESS    NIGHT 

JOHN  FARWELL  did  not  go  to  bed  that  night. 
Once  in  his  room,  he  flung  himself  on  his  knees 
before  the  bed  and  burst  into  tears.  All  the  fatigue 
of  his  long  walk ;  all  the  anxiety  that  preceded  his 
coming  to  Mr.  Crane's  ;  all  the  keen  interest  of  the 
meeting  with  Paul  Revere ;  all  the  gallantry  of  his 
adventure  with  Prudence ;  all  the  excitement  of 
the  Liberty  Tree  meeting,  —  all  these  found  their  re 
action  now  in  a  tumult  of  self-condemnation,  regret, 
and  shame.  He  had  proved  untrustworthy,  he  had 
disgraced  himself  in  the  sight  of  his  new  master ;  he 
had  forfeited  his  new  position  and  must  go  back  dis 
charged. 

Go  back  ?  Where  should  he  go  ?  What  place  was 
there  on  land  or  sea  that  opened  its  arms  to  him  ? 
An  hour  ago  he  was  in  the  flush  of  his  success,  and 
life  never  seemed  so  sweet  or  inviting ;  but  now  it 

75 


76  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

was  only  bitterness  and  shame.  He  was  too  much 
overwrought  to  frame  excuses  for  himself.  His  con 
science  failed  to  stand  by  him  in  that  hour  when  he 
had  no  other  friend.  John  Farwell  was  alone,  friend 
less,  homeless,  an  outcast. 

Long  he  knelt  before  the  bed.  His  weeping  spent 
itself,  and  he  began,  almost  unconsciously,  to  pray. 
Something  of  calmness  returned  to  him  now,  and  the 
memory  that  he  had  meant  well  came  to  save  him 
from  utter  dejection  ;  still  he  was  miserable. 

Long  after  midnight  he  flung  himself  across  the 
bed,  but  he  could  not  sleep.  An  hour  or  more  he 
tossed  from  side  to  side;  and  when  that  became  un 
bearable,  he  rose  and  sat  before  the  window.  The 
moon  was  still  shining,  but  the  scene  had  changed ; 
or  was  it  that  he  saw  the  vision  with  different  eyes  ? 
How  cold,  how  inhospitable,  everything  looked !  How 
silent  the  town  was !  Its  thousands  of  people  were 
all  asleep  but  he ;  or  could  it  be  possible  that  any 
one  else  was  awake,  and  suffering  as  much  ? 

The  thought  of  suffering  brought  back  the  mem 
ory  of  Prudence.  He  wondered  how  her  father  was ; 
dying  perhaps.  Then  he  remembered  the  drowning 
of  his  own  father,  and  the  death  of  his  mother,  and 


A    CHEERLESS    NIGHT  77 

bowed  his  head  upon  his  folded  arms  on  the  window- 
sill.  He  did  not  weep  again.  He  was  past  that 
now.  It  was  his  nervousness  that  had  made  him 
cry,  and  he  felt  ashamed  of  it.  Yet,  at  that  mo 
ment,  he  would  have  given  his  right  hand  if  he  could 
have  buried  his  face  in  his  mother's  lap  and  cried 
again,  and  told  her  all. 

Another  hour  dragged  by,  —  and  another,  —  on 
wings  of  lead.  A  fog  came  up  from  the  sea  that 
chilled  him.  He  wrapped  himself  in  the  bedclothes, 
and  still  sat  before  the  window,  unable  now  to  see, 
but  straining  his  eyes  in  a  vain  effort  to  penetrate 
the  fog  and  the  future.  He  was  sure  that  he  did 
not  drop  asleep,  but  something  woke  him.  The  bells 
had  rung.  Was  it  five  o'clock  ?  The  light  was 
breaking  through  the  fog  to  the  eastward.  In  a 
minute  the  clock  on  the  stairs  would  strike.  He 
waited  a  long  time,  and  heard  the  buzzing  which  pre 
ceded  the  strike.  Then  he  counted,  — 

"  One,  —  two,  —  three,  —  four,  —  five  "  —  he  started 
for  the  door,  determined  at  least  to  hasten  down  and 
build  the  fire ;  but  ere  he  reached  it  the  clock  struck 
once  more. 

"  Six    o'clock ! "      And    added    to    his    disgrace,    as 


78  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

though  he  had  not  enough  to  suffer  for  already,  he 
had  overslept !  He  had  meant  to  hurry  down  on  the 
stroke  of  five,  to  blow  the  fire  and  make  it  blaze, 
though  he  could  find  but  green  wood  for  kindling. 
Even  as  he  went,  the  maid,  Judy,  was  heard  calling 
the  family  to  breakfast.  As  he  descended,  he  met 
her  in  the  hall. 

"  Heah,  now,  you  good  fur-nuffm'  no-'count  boy !  " 
she  exclaimed  as  he  approached.  "  What  fo'  you 
not  on  time  to  git  me  dem  shavin's  and  build  dat 
fiah  ?  You  des  like  de  las'  boy,  an'  you  bettah 
b'liebe  Mars  Crane  am'  goin'  hab'  no  sech  no-'count 
trash  round  heah  !  " 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  were  on  the  landing  above 
and  overheard  the  scolding  which  Judy  gave  John. 

"Poor  boy,"  said  Mrs.  Crane,  "he  is  getting  it  on 
every  hand !  " 

"And  well  he  may!"  said  Crane.  "He'll  get 
worse  when  I  talk  with  him ! " 

"  John,  dear,"  said  his  wife,  "  listen  to  me  a 
minute.  The  lad  has  done  -wrong,  I  know,  but  you 
are  angry  and  will  do  harm  if  you  talk  with  him 
now.  Do  not  do  him  injustice.  He  is  homeless. 
Wait  till  you  can  talk  with  him  calmly." 


A    CHEERLESS    NIGHT  79 

"  I've  little  to  say  to  him,  and  can  say  it  now  as 
well  as  any  time,"  said  he. 

"  And  what  will  you  say  ? " 

"That  he  may  pack  his  stuff  and  go." 

"Poor  boy!  he  had  little  to  pack.  I  doubt  not  it 
is  packed  already.  But  John,  dear,  do  me  a  favor." 

"  Mehitabel,  you  are  ever  too  tender-hearted." 

"  But,  John,  you  are  generally  glad  when  you  heed 
my  words.  Tell  me,  dear,  are  you  not?" 

"Ah,  well,  I  am  too  hot  sometimes.  But  what 
will  you  have?  The  breakfast  waits." 

"  Say  nothing  to  the  lad  this  morning,  and  do  not 
discharge  him  till  you  write  to  Parson  Clarke." 

"  But  meantime  you  will  talk  with  the  lad,  and 
coddle  and  forgive  him  —  " 

"  No,  John,  if  you  will  say  nothing  to  him,  I  will 
say  nothing.  But  wait  a  day  or  two." 

"  Very  well.  I  am  ever  the  victim  of  your  tender 
hearted  folly.  I'll  have  a  talk  with  the  lad  later, 
and  say  nothing  till  I  am  over  my  heat.  The  young 
wretch !  I'd  like  to  wring  his  neck  this  minute ! 
Slipping  out  in  the  night,  and  coming  back  at  mid 
night  so  sly  !  I  warrant  he's  a  thief  !  " 

"  Nay,  nay,  John  !     He  is  no  thief." 


8O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Much  you  know  of  him  !  " 

"But  Parson  Clarke  —  " 

"  Parsons  and  women  alike  are  to  be  heeded  but 
little  in  matters  of  this  sort.  However,  I  will  obey 
you  this  time,  though  you  did  promise  to  honor  and 
obey  me.  But  the  breakfast  grows  cold.  Come." 

John  washed  his  pale  face  and  swollen  eyes  out 
side  the  kitchen  door,  and  stole  guiltily  in  to  break 
fast.  John  Crane  and  his  wife  were  already  seated. 
Crane  did  not  speak  to  him,  and  Mrs.  Crane  merely 
pointed  to  his  chair  at  the  foot  of  the  table.  Crane 
helped  John  to  bacon  and  eggs,  and  Judy  poured  him 
a  cup  of  raspberry-leaf  tea.  The  meal  proceeded  in 
silence.  Truly  was  it  a  relief  when  the  baby  awoke 
crying  upstairs. 

"Bring  her  to  me,  Judy,"  said  Mrs.  Crane;  and 
Judy  went  upstairs  and  brought  her. 

John,  choking  himself  on  a  few  bites  of  break 
fast,  felt  more  and  more  uncomfortable  every  minute. 
The  baby  fretted,  and  Crane,  already  in  no  pleasant  mood, 
grew  more  irritated.  Mrs.  Crane  pushed  back  from  the 
table,  and  began  to  rock  the  little  one  in  her  arms. 

"  Oh,  please  let  me  take  her,  Mistress  Crane,"  said 
John,  rising,  "and  do  you  finish  your  breakfast." 


A    CHEERLESS    NIGHT  8l 

"  No,  no,"  said  she,  gently ;  "  eat  your  breakfast, 
lad." 

"  I  want  no  breakfast !  Indeed,  I  am  not  hungry ! 
Let  me  take  the  baby.  I  can  care  for  her.  You 
shall  see !  " 

Mrs.  Crane  started  to  hand  him  the  baby,  but 
Crane  growled  a  surly  "  Sit  down !  " 

Mrs.  Crane  held  back  the  little  one,  and  John  re 
sumed  his  seat,  but  could  not  eat  another  bite. 

After  breakfast  they  started  to  the  shop.  John 
could  bear  this  no  longer. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Crane,"  he  cried,  "I  have  done  wrong, 
but  let  me  —  " 

"  Speak  when  you're  spoken  to  ! "  said  Crane,  sav 
agely,  and  John's  determination  to  make  a  clean 
breast  of  the  matter  was  cut  short. 

"  Here,  Bolter,"  said  Crane,  addressing  his  fore 
man,  "take  this  lad  and  see  what  you  can  make  of 
him,  and  mind  you  make  him  work." 

The  foreman,  Thomas  Bolter,  gave  John  a  broom, 
and  said,  "  Come,  lad,  sweep  this  floor  while  I  set 
these  men  to  work." 

John,  glad  enough  to  rest  his  mind  by  employing 
his  hands,  set  himself  to  work  with  a  heavy  heart. 


CHAPTER  VII 

RUNNING   THE   GANTLET 

JOHN  remembered  his  first  week  in  Crane's  shop 
as  a  kind  of  nightmare.  Crane  was  gone  much  of 
the  time ;  sometimes  attending  to  work  on  several 
houses  which  he  was  nervously  anxious  to  finish 
before  winter ;  sometimes  going  out  with  patriotic 
leaders  to  attend  to  mysterious  business.  He  had 
ever  a  pleasant  word  for  the  Bradlees  and  Lorings, 
his  neighbors  across  the  street,  people  as  interested 
as  he  in  public  affairs.  He  never  spoke  harshly  to 
his  wife  or  children,  though  he  was  an  exacting  man 
in  his  shop,  driving  his  work  with  a  fury  which  Bolter, 
his  foreman,  readily  copied  after  him. 

To  John  he  showed  a  sullen  aversion — an  unnatural 
thing  in  him.  By  nature  he  was  quick  of  temper, 
and  soon  over  it.  Could  he  have  scolded  John 
roundly  on  the  first  morning,  heard  his  explanation 
and  vented  his  ill-humor,  he  would  likely  have  for- 

82 


RUNNING    THE    GANTLET  83 

given  John,  laughed  with  him  over  his  escapade, 
warned  him  against  a  repetition,  and  liked  him  the 
better  for  it.  But  he  was  called  away  soon  after 
breakfast  on  the  first  day,  and  came  home  tired  at 
night.  He  was  still  under  his  promise  to  Mehitabel, 
and  too  angry  to  hear  John  with  patience,  so  he 
vented  the  anger  which  he  could  not  exhibit  in  bitter 
speech  in  an  unkind  neglect  that  now  and  then  broke 
into  abuse  over  some  trivial  matter,  but  made  no 
allusion  to  the  affair  which  had  provoked  his  ill-will. 

Mrs.  Crane  spoke  little  to  John.  Her  quiet  kind 
ness  was  the  one  bright  spot  in  the  memory  of 
those  days.  Even  Judy  delighted  in  a  petty  but 
relentless  persecution  of  the  unfortunate  lad. 

In  the  shop  it  was  understood  in  some  way  that 
John  was  under  a  ban.  He  suffered  from  his  fellow- 
workmen,  both  from  the  jealousy  of  the  other  ap 
prentices, —  for  his  being  domiciled  in  the  master's 
house  presumably  showed  him  to  be  a  favorite,  —  and 
also  from  the  very  opposite  feeling  that  as  he  had 
gained  the  master's  ill-will,  he  deserved  the  same 
treatment  from  the  entire  shop. 

It  was  hard  for  John  to  do  well  under  these  cir 
cumstances.  He  began  as  all  boys  do,  somewhat 


84  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

bunglingly,  but  more  so  for  being  ill  at  ease.  Bolter 
declared  him  to  be  the  most  stupid  apprentice  that 
had  ever  entered  the  shop.  Sam  Fenno,  a  skilled 
journeyman,  spoke  little,  but  showed  that  he  disliked 
him ;  and  one  day  when  John  sawed  into  a  nail, 
broke  his  accustomed  silence  and  abused  him. 

Every  apprentice  in  that  day  had  to  run  a  gant 
let  of  ill-treatment  from  his  companions.  Under 
other  circumstances  John  could  have  borne  it.  But 
bearing  as  he  was  a  burden  already  too  great  for 
him,  each  petty  slight  or  jest  at  his  unskilled  at 
tempts  to  become  a  carpenter  went  straight  to  his 
heart;  such  jests  for  the  most  part  as  greet  every  'pren 
tice  boy,  and  whose  cruelty  consists  in  the  enjoyment 
of  their  cutting  powers.  From  his  mother  he  had 
inherited  a  sensitive  nature,  and  his  sufferings  were 
almost  unbearable. 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  which  gave  John 
some  satisfaction.  It  was  a  little  thing,  but  he  felt 
as  though  it  gave  him  a  partial  opportunity  to  re 
deem  himself.  That  was-  the  kitchen  fire.  Each 
night  before  the  shop  closed  he  brought  out  a  basket 
of  shavings  and  chips  from  the  hewing-block,  and 
placed  them  in  a  corner  of  the  kitchen,  for  he  knew 


RUNNING    THE    GANTLET  85 

that  the  keys  would  not  be  trusted  to  him.  And 
each  morning  at  the  stroke  of  five  he  was  out  of 
bed,  and,  making  his  way  to  the  kitchen,  quickly  made 
the  fire,  and  then  sat  before  it  reading  the  Gazette,  or 
Mayhew's  "Thanksgiving  Sermon,"  or  Wigglesworth's 
"  Day  of  Doom,"  by  its  light  till  Judy  came  down. 

When  he  offered  to  help  Judy,  she  accepted  his 
assistance  with  feigned  scorn,  and  many  contemptu 
ous  declarations  of  his  being  more  bother  than  he 
was  worth. 

John  rapidly  fell  in  his  own  esteem.  He  came  to 
count  himself  of  little  value.  His  courage  seemed  to 
ooze  out  of  him  and  he  gave  over  all  thought  of 
explaining  to  Crane.  He  took  Judy's  scoldings  with 
a  sheepish  assurance  that,  for  some  reason,  he  de 
served  them,  and  he  did  his  work  in  the  shop  with 
a  sulky  feeling  that  his  hand  was  against  every 
man. 

Once  he  broke  a  small  chisel,  and  when  Bolter 
came  at  him  almost  savagely,  the  worm  within  him 
turned,  and  he  answered  Bolter  so  hotly  and  de 
fiantly  that  Bolter  accused  him  of  breaking  the  chisel 
intentionally.  This  outbreak  of  temper  was  followed 
by  a  deeper  sullenness,  and  while  John  saw  that  his 


86  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

companions  rejoiced  that  his  impudence  had  taken 
Bolter  aback,  yet  they  as  well  as  Bolter  hated  him 
the  more  for  it.  It  revealed,  they  thought,  an  ugly 
temper  in  addition  to  all  his  other  faults. 

Work  stopped  a  little  earlier  on  Thursday  that  the 
men  might  attend  the  weekly  lecture.  Poor  John 
embraced  the  opportunity  to  get  out  of  sight,  and 
walked  far  over  the  Neck  into  Rocksbury.  He  had 
looked  forward  to  this  day  as  one  when  he  might  run 
about  Boston  and  see  the  town.  Now  the  day  had 
come,  but,  alas !  bringing  him  but  one  desire,  which 
was  to  bury  himself  from  human  sight. 

On  Sunday  John  went  to  the  Old  South  Meeting 
house.  Mr.  Bacon  delivered  the  sermon.  The  ser 
vice  embraced  a  public  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  a 
thing  relatively  new,  then,  in  their  religious  services, 
though  the  Old  South  had  observed  the  custom  for 
several  years,  and  the  Brattle  Street  Church  for  a 
longer  time. 

At  the  close  of  the  service  John  met  Tom  Lawson, 
who  introduced  him  to  a  group  of  boys  from  the  Latin 
School, — Will  Sewall,  Job  Morris,  and  George  Cook. 

There  was  a  second  service  in  the  afternoon.  After 
that  John  walked  with  Tom  Lawson  and  Will  Sewall 


RUNNING    THE    GANTLET  8/ 

upon  the  Common,  where  they  pointed  out  to  him  the 
Old  Elm  upon  which  Ann  Hibbins  had  been  hanged ; 
the  Powder  House ;  the  Parade  Ground ;  and  the  Frog 
Pond.  John's  interest  in  life  revived  somewhat.  He 
began  to  plan  amusements  with  the  other  boys  that 
should  occupy  the  spare  time  after  the  Thursday  lec 
tures,  for  then  they  would  have  liberty  in  many  things 
forbidden  by  the  Sabbath  customs. 

John  walked  back  with  his  companions  to  the 
meeting-house,  and  parted  from  them  there.  They 
were  royal  fellows,  both  of  them.  Will  Sewall  was 
a  great  Latin  scholar,  —  one  of  Master  Lovell's  favor 
ites,  —  but  unlike  his  master,  far  from  being  a  Tory. 
Indeed,  John  had  met  no  Tories  among  the  boys  except 
Job  Morris.  As  for  Tom,  he  was  irrepressible.  He 
knew  all  that  was  known  or  talked  about  in  the 
printing-office,  and  that  was  much,  and  was  patriotic 
to  the  point  of  constant  danger  of  explosion. 

Having  parted  from  his  companions,  he  strolled  for 
a  time  about  the  Common.  It  was  still  well  out  of 
town,  and  apparently  larger  than  the  town  could  ever 
use.  It  was  mostly  a  bleak  and  unimproved  place. 
The  side  toward  Common  Street,1  however,  and  the 

1  Now  part  of  Tremont. 


88  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

end  toward  Sentry,1  showed  that  they  were  much  used. 
John  walked  entirely  around  the  Common,  and  then 
started  diagonally  across  it  toward  home,  for  it  was 
nearing  supper  time.  Walking  slowly  along,  —  for  his 
feet  began  to  drag  as  he  turned  homeward,  —  he  was 
surprised  to  hear  his  name  called,  and  looking  up  met 
Prudence  Goodrich. 

"  How  unkind  of  you  to  pass  us  without  speaking ! 
Now  you  need  not  pretend  that  you  did  not  see  us,  for 
I  saw  you,  and  why  should  you  not  have  seen  us  ?  I 
want  you  to  meet  my  mother.  Mother,  this  is  John 
Farwell,  who  was  so  good  to  me." 

John  turned  and  met  a  well-dressed  lady,  who  ex 
tended  her  hand. 

"  I  thank  you  for  being  kind  to  Prudence,"  she  said. 
"I  did  not  realize,  when  I  let  her  go,  how  much  she 
might  need  such  help  as  yours." 

"I  was  most  glad  to  help  her,"  said  John;  "it  was 
a  lonely  time  for  her  to  be  out  alone." 

"  I  blame  myself  for  letting  her  go,"  said  Mrs.  Good 
rich  ;  "  I  was  confused  and  troubled  by  my  husband's 
sudden  sickness,  and  let  her  go  for  help  when  I  should 
have  thought  to  restrain  her." 

1  Now  Beacon. 


RUNNING    THE    GANTLET  89 

"  It  was  a  pleasure  to  be  of  service  to  her,"  said 
John.  "  I  hope  that  Mr.  Goodrich  is  better !  " 

"Much  better,  thank  you.  We  are  out  for  a  breath 
of  air,  for  we  have  had  to  be  with  him  almost  con 
stantly,  but  we  hope  that  he  will  soon  be  well  again," 
Mrs.  Goodrich  informed  him. 

"  I  am  glad  that  he  improves." 

"  You  do  not  forget  that  you  are  to  call  and  see  us  ?  " 
asked  Prudence. 

"Yes,  Master  John,"  Mrs.  Goodrich  assented,  "we 
shall  be  glad  to  see  you,  when  —  " 

"When  Mr.  Goodrich  is  better,  and  you  are  less 
wearied,"  tactfully  answered  John ;  "  I  will  gladly  come. 
Good  afternoon." 

John  continued  on  his  way  home  in  a  more  cheerful 
frame  of  mind,  though  he  remembered  that  his  adven 
ture  with  Prudence  was  the  occasion  of  all  his  misfor 
tunes,  and  that  he  had  paid  and  was  paying  dearly 
for  his  acquaintance  with  the  Goodrich  family.  Yet  it 
could  not  be  denied  that  he  felt  more  than  compensated. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE   HERO   OF   THE   FIRE 

MONDAY  morning  brought  back  the  weary  round 
of  the  week's  work.  John  faced  it  again  with  little 
heart.  The  Sabbath  had  wrought  a  measure  of  good 
in  John  Crane.  It  was  not  in  his  nature  to  hold 
malice,  and  violent  as  he  could  be  in  rage,  he  was 
glad  to  be  merry  again.  On  the  Sunday  evening 
previous  he  sat  by  his  fire,  chatting  with  David  and 
Nathaniel  Bradlee,  two  of  the  four  brothers  who 
lived  across  the  street,  and  trotting  the  baby  on  his 
knee.  He  had  even  been  civil  to  John,  though  before 
retiring,  he  called  to  Judy  to  lock  the  door  and  bring 
him  the  keys,  which,  as  heretofore,  he  somewhat 
ostentatiously  carried  to  his  own  room.  John  saw 
the  act  as  he  had  seen  it  every  night,  and  it  brought 
back  his  humiliation.  However  much  Crane  might 
relent  toward  him,  it  was  evident  that  he  would  give 
him  no  chance  to  explain,  and  that  he  barely  tolerated, 
and  did  not  trust,  him. 

9° 


THE    HERO    OF    THE    FIRE  9! 

Monday  forenoon  went  no  better  than  the  week 
before.  John  had  learned  to  saw  to  a  line,  and  did  his 
work  with  great  care.  Bolter,  who  could  not  find  fault 
with  him  now  for  bad  work,  scolded  him  for  being  slow, 
and  John  felt  the  sullen,  bitter  feeling  returning. 

The  noon  hour  came,  and  the  men  stopped  for 
dinner.  Crane  had  discovered  a  defect  in  the  work 
of  his  men  on  one  of  the  houses,  and  was  in  ill-temper 
again.  John,  growing  nervous  at  the  table,  spilled  the 
gravy  which  Crane  was  handing  him.  Mortified,  and 
almost  heedless  of  Crane's  angry  word,  he  ran  from 
the  table  and  back  to  the  shop. 

Halfway  between  the  house  and  shop  John  paused. 
There  was  smoke  across  the  street,  and  men  were 
running. 

"  Fire  "  was  the  word  John  heard.  He  turned  back 
to  the  house. 

"  Mr.  Bradlee's  house  is  on  fire ! " l  he  cried. 

The  alarm  was  soon  given.  Bells  were  rung  and 
men  came  hurrying  from  dinner.  Crane's  ladders 
were  all  at  the  houses  he  was  building,  and  there 

1  The  Bradlee  house,  a  fine  Colonial  structure,  standing  at  the  corner 
of  Tremont  and  Hollis  streets,  stood  until  the  autumn  of  1898,  when 
it  was  sacrificed  to  the  growth  of  business  and  torn  down. 


92  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

were  no  others  near.  When  the  crowd  gathered,  fire 
was  bursting  from  the  roof  of  the  kitchen. 

John  seized  a  bucket  of  water,  and  Crane  another. 
Men  were  running  from  every  direction,  some  bringing 
buckets,  some  pans,  and  from  a  distance  came  two  with 
a  ladder. 

"  Form  in  line,  here !  "  cried  Crane ;  "  two  lines  : 
one  to  Dr.  Byles'  well,  and  one  to  mine !  Here, 
Gammel !  Fenno !  Draw  the  water  here !  And  you, 
Bolter,  see  to  the  drawing  at  the  other  well !  Now, 
fill  the  buckets  and  be  passing  them  against  they  get 
the  ladder !  (  Here,  you  fools !  Why  stand  you  there 
staring  ?  Help  those  men  with  the  ladder  yonder ! 
Now,  up  !  who  will  climb  it  ? " 

Several  venturesome  men  started  up  the  ladder,  one 
with  more  dash  than  courage  or  persistency  reached 
the  top,  paused,  and  throwing  his  bucket  of  water  up 
the  roof,  reached  for  another  and  another. 

Crane,  the  recognized  leader,  was  at  the  well 
attending  to  the  water  supply,  when  looking  about 
he  saw  that  the  line  ended  with  the  roof,  and  the 
man  at  the  top  of  the  ladder  throwing  water  in 
useless  bucketfuls  upon  it. 

"  Come  down  from  there,  you  fool ! "  cried  Crane, 
"  and  send  up  a  man  who  can  climb ! " 


THE    HERO    OF    THE    FIRE  93 

The  cheap  hero  of  the  first  attack  came  down, 
glorying  in  his  prominence,  and  too  stupid  to  know 
that  he  had  done  harm  in  allowing  the  fire  time  to 
make  greater  headway. 

Another  man  ran  up  the  ladder,  and  attempted  to 
scramble  up  the  roof,  but  the  lower  section  of  the 
roof  was  steep,  and  had  been  made  very  slippery  by 
the  water  thrown  upon  it.  The  man  lost  his  footing, 
slipped,  and  fell  to  the  ground,  where  men  caught 
and  saved  him  from  a  worse  fate  than  a  wrenched 
wrist  and  severe  bruises,  gained  in  trying  to  save 
himself. 

There  was  an  instinctive  falling  back  from  the 
foot  of  the  ladder.  For  a  quarter  of  a  minute  no 
one  spoke.  Even  Crane's  commands  failed  him ;  and 
no  one  seemed  to  think  what  might  next  be  done. 
Then  from  the  line  there  ran  a  lad  with  a  bucket  of 
water  in  his  hand.  Quickly  he  mounted  the  ladder, 
and  hooking  the  bucket  to  the  top  rung,  steadied 
himself,  while  he  tore  off  a  handful  of  shingles; 
then  a  little  farther  up  he  tore  off  another ;  unhook 
ing  his  bucket  he  carefully  climbed,  with  his  toes 
between  the  bared  roof-boards,  and  in  half  a  minute 
was  on  the  ridge. 


94  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

There  was  a  cheer  from  the  ground  as  the  crowd 
witnessed  the  brave  act,  and  then  a  dozen  men  ran 
up  the  ladder,  some  of  them  standing  upon  it,  some 
of  them  in  the  footholds  on  the  roof,  and,  complet 
ing  the  line  from  well  to  ridge,  they  passed  up  the 
buckets. 

There  are  some  moments  in  our  lives  when  the 
soul  rises  to  a  consciousness  of  its  real  powers ;  when, 
in  possession  of  every  faculty,  and  with  a  calm  con 
fidence,  we  feel  ourselves  equal  to  the  situation. 
These  are  the  moments  afterward  remembered  as 
those  in  which  we  stood  in  the  presence  of  our  real 
selves.  That  was  such  a  moment  in  the  life  of  John 
Farwell.  In  all  the  eventful  years  that  came  to  him, 
he  never  forgot  that  moment,  when,  exhilarated  but 
also  calmed  by  the  cheers  of  the  crowd  below,  he 
straightened  himself  upon  the  ridge-pole,  and  poured 
his  first  bucket  of  water  between  his  feet. 

There  was  an  angry  hiss.  The  flames  died  down 
for  a  moment,  and  then  burst  forth  to  meet  his 
second  bucket.  Another  bucket,  and  John  had  a 
safe  place  to  stand,  and  then  to  the  right  and  left 
he  subdued  the  flames  at  the  peak. 

"An  axe!"    he  cried. 


THE    HERO    OF    THE    FIRE  95 

The  axe  was  handed  him,  and  he  chopped  through 
the  shingles,  and  then  poured  bucket  after  bucket 
into  the  attic.  Again  he  stopped  and  cut  a  larger 
hole,  and  then  a  man  went  in,  and  the  water  was 
handed  to  him.  The  window  in  the  gable  was  burst 
out,  the  ladder  shifted  to  it,  and  in  ten  minutes 
the  fire  was  under  control,  and  John  Farwell  came 
down  the  ladder. 

The  Bradlees  gathered  about  John  and  thanked 
him.  The  crowd  was  asking  who  he  was,  and  prais 
ing  him  for  his  courage  and  quick  thought.  His 
name  was  passed  from  mouth  to  mouth,  and  John 
escaped  from  the  persecution  of  hero  worship  almost 
as  gladly  as  on  Thursday  he  had  escaped  from  that 
of  disfavor. 

He  had  burned  his  shirt  sleeve  badly,  and  his  arm 
a  little,  in  his  first  reaching  the  ridge.  He  had  to 
change  his  clothes,  and  have  his  arm  bound  up, 
though  he  protested  against  the  latter  attention  as 
needless.  But  Mrs.  Crane  insisted,  and  was  minded 
to  have  John  make  the  most  of  his  heroism  and 
the  credit  he  got  for  it.  She  praised  him  to  his  face, 
and  before  that  of  her  husband,  and  Crane  warmly 
seconded  her  words  of  approval  of  John's  courage. 


96  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"Though,"  he  said,  "any  one  might  have  done  it 
if  he  had  only  thought." 

"Aye,"  said  Mrs.  Crane,  "and  the  best  deed  is 
that  which  is  born  of  thought.  The  world  goes 
often  to  the  bad  for  lack  of  a  man  who  can  both 
think  and  do." 

Crane  said  no  more.  But  John  could  see  that  he 
had  risen  in  his  master's  favor. 

"You  need  not  go  to  work  again,  lad,"  he  said, 
kindly.  "Your  burn  will  be  the  better  for  a  rest  till 
morning,  and  the  Gazette  will  soon  be  here." 

So  John  sat  on  the  steps  that  afternoon  and  read 
to  his  master  from  the  Gazette,  and  was  happy.  Yes, 
happy,  though  there  lurked  one  drop  of  bitterness  in 
his  cup.  For  that  night,  when  Judy  had  locked  up, 
she  brought  the  keys  to  Crane,  who  received  them, 
hesitated,  and  then,  as  before,  took  them  to  his  own 
room. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  TORY  PARSON 

FOUR  weeks  had  passed  since  John  Farwell  came 
to  Boston.  They  were  busy  weeks,  and,  after  the 
first,  not  unpleasant  ones.  There  was  no  more  per 
secution  in  the  shop.  The  men  had  come  to  respect 
John.  There  were  jokes  over  his  mistakes,  but  John 
was  now  in  a  position  to  take  a  joke  at  its  true  value 
and  to  return  it.  There  was  no  longer  a  sting  in  the 
jokes,  and  John  ceased  to  fear  the  scolding  of  Bolter 
or  the  reticent  scorn  of  Fenno. 

Crane  was  busy,  —  so  busy  that  John  sometimes 
thought  that  it  was  because  he  had  forgotten  that  he 
still  kept  the  keys,  and  not  that  Crane  did  not  mean 
to  trust  him  with  them  again.  Certainly  he  ceased 
to  treat  John  with  aversion,  and  the  only  time  in  the 
day  when  John  felt  constrained  in  his  presence  was 
at  night  when  Judy  brought  in  the  keys.  He  had 
come  to  hate  this  scene  with  a  hatred  that  was 
H  97 


98  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

almost  morbid,  and  at  length  began  to  go  to  bed 
before  the  family  broke  up,  that  he  might  not  be 
there  when  Judy  brought  the  keys  into  the  kitchen 
before  her  own  retirement. 

There  were  occasional  pleasant  gatherings  at  the 
Cranes'  in  the  evenings.  The  Bradlees  and  the  Lov- 
erings  were  often  in,  and  sometimes  men  of  note. 
During  such  evenings  John  sat  listening  to  the  con 
versations  and  sometimes  shared  them.  At  least  one 
night  a  week  Crane  spent  at  the  Green  Dragon, 
where  he  met  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  There 
were  other  meetings  from  time  to  time,  but  most 
of  his  evenings  were  spent  before  his  own  fire. 

John  divided  his  work  between  the  shop  and 
houses  under  construction,  but  Monday  afternoon 
Crane  had  him  at  the  shop,  and  contrived  to  call 
him  when  the  Gazette  appeared. 

Late  in  October  came  alarming  reports  of  the  Brit 
ish  Government's  intentions  concerning  a  shipment  of 
tea.  Just  what  was  to  be  done  no  one  knew,  but 
there  was  expectation  of  something  important  and 
perhaps  decisive. 

One  Monday  afternoon  Crane  sat  on  his  doorstep 
waiting  for  the  paper,  when  a  voice  clear  and  full 
addressed  him  from  the  next  yard :  — 


THE    TORY    PARSON  99 

"  Good  morrow,  Master  Crane." 

Crane  looked  up  with  an  air  of  annoyance,  but 
answered  courteously:  — 

"  Good  morrow,  Dr.  Byles." 

"  I  hear  that  our  good  Sovereign  invites  you  to 
take  a  cup  of  tea  with  him,"  said  the  minister,  who 
was  a  well-known  Tory  and  an  inveterate  wit. 

"  He  shall  not  pour  it  down  our  throats,"  retorted 
Crane/ 

"  Nay,  be  not  rash.  Sweeten  thy  cup  and  pour  in 
a  drop  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness.  Think  how 
gracious  is  our  Sovereign !  " 

"  Zounds,  man  !  "  exclaimed  Crane.  "  Do  you  for 
get  that  we  are  well-nigh  furious,  that  you  goad  me 
thus  with  your  fun-making  ?  We  suffer  great  wrongs, 
and  they  shall  be  redressed." 

Just  then  a  small  band  of  Redcoats  coming  from 
Rocksbury  passed  through  Hollis  Street,  clambering  to 
the  sides  to  avoid  the  mud,  turned  into  Tremont,  and 
proceeded  toward  the  Common  for  drill.  Dr.  Byles' 
two  daughters  came  to  the  door  and  waved  their  hand 
kerchiefs  at  the  soldiers.  Both  men  stopped  a  moment 
till  they  had  marched  by.  Then,  replying  to  Crane's 
last  remark,  the  punning  parson  said :  — 


TOO        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  You  see  your  wrongs  are  about  to  be  red-dressed." 

"  You  had  a  double  '  d '  in  that  word,  I  noticed,  Dr. 
Byles,"  said  Mr.  Crane,  his  annoyance  relaxing  in  a 
smile. 

"Oh,  I  have  been  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  double 
'  D '  these  eight  years,"  said  Byles. 

It  was  hard  to  maintain  a  feeling  of  annoyance 
toward  a  man  of  such  imperturbable  good-humor,  and 
Crane  laughed  at  the  turn  of  the  joke  from  the  sol 
diers'  to  Dr.  Byles'  own  title;  for  Doctors  of  Divinity 
were  rare  in  those  days,  and  Dr.  Byles'  title,  of  which 
he  was  proud,  had  come  to  him  from  across  the  water 
as  a  just  tribute  to  his  learning  and  versatility. 

John  had  a  good  look  at  the  famous  old  Tory.  He 
was  an  imposing  figure,  of  venerable  mien,  aged  al 
most  seventy,  and  wore  an  enormous  wig. 

Dr.  Byles  seemed  to  John  a  most  interesting  man. 
He  had  seen  him  at  a  distance  several  times,  and  also 
his  two  daughters,  Katy  and  Polly.  This  was  his 
first  opportunity  to  hear  him  talk.  John  had  been 
told  that  the  old  Doctor  was  genial,  and  not  at  all 
the  forbidding  character  a  patriot  boy  would,  in  his 
imagination,  naturally  attach  to  a  Loyalist.  To  John 
it  seemed  that  principles  like  those  of  Byles  should 


THE    TORY    PARSON  IOI 

have  made  him  a  different  man,  and  he  was  just  wish 
ing  that  he  could  ask  him  some  questions,  when  Mr. 
Crane  saved  him  the  trouble. 

"Dr.  Byles,"  said  he,  "you  seem  to  me  a  strange 
contradiction." 

"  I  ?     I  never  contradict  any  one  if  I  can  help  it." 

"Except  yourself." 

"  I  have  little  occasion  to  contradict  myself,  since 
my  opinions,  however  unpopular  with  others,  are  quite 
satisfactory  to  myself." 

"  Perhaps,  then,  you  seem  to  yourself   consistent  ? " 

"  And  why  not  to  you,  also  ?  " 

"Dr.  Byles,  you  are  an  inveterate  wit,  yet  your 
sermons  are  always  solemn.  You  are  democratic  in 
your  religion,  and  monarchical  in  your  politics.  You  are 
an  implacable  Tory,  yet  you  never  preach  your  politics." 

"And  why  do  I  never  preach  my  politics?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  unless  you  are  ashamed  of  them." 

"  I  should  be  ashamed  of  politics  like  yours." 

"Why,  then,  do  you  not  preach  your  own,  as  do 
the  patriot  ministers?" 

"  I  am  a  patriot." 

"  Call  it  what  you  like,  Dr.  Byles,  but  give  your 
reasons." 


IO2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Perhaps  I  don't  choose  to  give  them." 
"  Oh,  well,  I  shall  simply  think  you  have  none." 
"  Mr.   Crane,   I   have  thrown   up   four   breastworks, 
behind  which  I  have  entrenched  myself,  —  neither  of 
which  can  be  forced." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  I  have  four  good  reasons  for  not  preaching  politics." 
"  I  can  give  ten  for  not  preaching  such  politics  as 
yours ;  nevertheless,  let  me  hear  your  four." 

"  In  the  first  place,  I  do  not  understand  politics." 
"  That  is  a  good   reason ;    I    believe   you.     What  is 
the  next  ?  " 

"In  the  next  place,"  said  Byles,  with  sarcastic  em 
phasis,  " you  do  understand  them,  —  every  man  and 
mother's  son  of  you." 

Crane  laughed  in  spite  of  himself.  "You  mean  —  ?  " 
he  said. 

"  I  mean  what  I  say.  You  town-meeting  ranters 
and  Liberty  Tree  patriots  all  think  you  know  more 
than  has  ever  been  known  from  the  foundation  of 
the  earth ;  why  should  yeu  want  instruction  from 
the  ministers,  or  from  any  one  ?  '  No  doubt  ye  are 
the  people,  and  wisdom  shall  die  with  you.'  ' 

"  That  is  enough  under  that  head,"  laughed  Crane. 
"Give  us  your  'Thirdly.'" 


THE    TORY    PARSON  IO3 

"  In  the  third  place,  you  have  politics  all  the  week ; 
pray  let  us  devote  one  day  out  of  seven  to  religion." 

"But  what  if  religion  and  politics  —  "  asked  Crane. 

"Hear  my  fourth  reason,  which  is,  that  I  am  en 
gaged  in  a  work  of  infinitely  greater  importance  than 
politics.  Give  me  any  truth  to  preach  upon  of  greater 
importance  than  the  message  I  bring,  and  I  will 
preach  upon  it  next  Sabbath." 

Crane  was  silent.  John  Farwell  stood  admiring  the 
eloquent  old  man  whose  wit  and  wisdom  seemed  equal. 

At  this  moment  Tom  Lawson  entered  the  yard, 
bringing  the  still  damp  copy  of  the  Gazette. 

"Here,  youngster,"  said  Crane,  "I  want  that  paper. 
Let  me  have  it  at  once." 

Crane  took  the  paper,  and  his  eye  fell  upon  an 
advertisement.  " '  Governor  Hutchinson's  Letters.' 
So!"  said  he,  "they  are  published,  then.  Here,  you 
young  printer!  Next  time  you  come  this  way,  bring 
me  a  copy  of  Hutchinson's  Letters ;  do  you  hear  ? " 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  said  Tom. 

"So  your  thieving  printers  are  about  to  publish 
their  theft,  are  they  ?  "  asked  Byles. 

"  They  are  publishing  to  the  world  the  duplicity  of 
our  Governor,"  replied  Crane.  "  He  and  stamp-officer 


IO4        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

Oliver  are  exactly  what  John  Adams  calls  them, 
'  Cool,  thinking,  deliberate  villains ' ;  malicious  and 
vindictive,  as  well  as  avaricious.  Dr.  Cooper  does 
well  to  denounce  him  from  his  pulpit  in  Brattle  Street, 
preaching  from  the  text  about  '  the  Old  Serpent,  which 
deceiveth  the  whole  world,  but  was  cast  out  into  the 
earth,  and  his  angels  after  him.' " 

"Ah  well,  if  you  like  that  kind  of  preaching." 

"  I  do,"  said  Crane. 

"  I  have  heard  much  of  these  letters,  which  ever 
since  June  you  fellows  have  been  secretly  passing 
about.  How  came  they  in  your  hands  ? " 

"  Ben  Franklin  got  them  in  England,  where  Hutch- 
inson  had  sent  them." 

"  How  did  Franklin  get  them  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,  but  I  know  that  we  should  never 
have  had  them  had  we  trusted  the  Governor.  When 
the  House  of  Representatives  asked  him  about 
them,  he  refused  to  give  copies  under  pretence 
of  sending  for  the  originals.  By  the  very  next  ship 
he  wrote  to  his  confidential  friend  in  London,  '  I  have 
wrote  what  ought  not  to  be  made  publick,'  and  charged 
him  to  destroy  what  would  make  trouble.  But  we 
have  them  all,  and  there  will  be  a  pretty  kettle  of 


THE   TORY    PARSON  IO5 

fish  now  that  the  town  knows,  as  it  will  know,  what 
he  has  said." 

"  And  what  has  he  said  ?  " 

"  He  has  advised  that  the  commerce  of  Boston  be 
restrained;  he  has  proposed  that  we  be  cut  off  from 
the  fisheries  ;  he  has  tried  to  take  away  the  charter 
from  Rhode  Island ;  he  has  urged  that  what  he  calls 
'  the  supremacy  of  Parliament '  be  maintained  by  mak 
ing  the  denial  of  it  a  capital  offence ;  he  has  hinted 
that  it  might  be  well  to  abrogate  among  us  the  liberty 
belonging  to  British  subjects,  and  to  proclaim  martial 
law." 

"All  this?" 

"  Aye,  and  much  more !  He  has  endeavored  to 
make  the  courts  dependent  upon  Parliament,  that  even 
the  last  appeal  of  justice  may  be  suborned  to  our 
enslavement." 

"  And  you  think  these  letters  show  all  this  ? " 

"  Aye,  for  I  have  read  them,  every  one,  at  the  Green 
Dragon,  or  heard  them  read,  and  you  shall  have  the 
reading  of  my  copy." 

"  There  are  perilous  times  ahead,  I  fear,"  said  Byles, 
seriously  enough  now.  "  Have  a  care,  man,  what  you 
do  next.  The  public  mind  is  like  a  powder-maga- 


IO6        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

zine,  and  this  is  like  to  be  a  match.  What  says  yon 
paper?" 

"  It  has  already  spoken  of  this,  for  the  editors  have 
known  for  weeks  the  contents  of  the  letters.  Aye,  and 
Hutchinson  knows  they  know.  How  he  must  have 
trembled  when  he  read,  a  fortnight  since,  their  letter  to 
him !  " 

" What  was  it ?     I  do  not  read  the  Gazette" 

"  More's  the  pity.  But  you  shall  see  what  was  said 
in  the  letter  already  published.  Come  in  and  read  it." 

Dr.  Byles  crossed  the  yard,  and  entered  the  door. 
He  took  the  paper  which  John  quickly  brought  to  him, 
and  started  to  read. 

"  It  grows  dark,"  said  he.  "  Lad,  your  eyes  are 
younger  than  mine.  Read  this  to  me." 

John  took  the  paper,  and  read  the  passage  which 
John  Crane  had  marked  with  his  carpenter's  pencil :  — 

"  Remember  that  you  have  not  transacted  one  single  thing 
for  the  benefit  of  your  Province,  but,  on  the  contrary,  have 
taken  every  possible  means  of  widening  the  breach  between 
the  Colonies  and  the  Parent  State.  But  thank  heaven  !  you 
have  spun  your  web,  and  have  fallen  into  the  very  pit  you 
wanted  to  avoid.  May  this  be  the  constant  fate  of  all  bad 

"A  FRIEND  TO  THE  COUNTRY." 


THE    TORY    PARSON  IO/ 

"  That  is  strange  talk  to  be  addressed  to  the  Gov 
ernor  of  the  Province,"  said  Byles,  "  and  more  than 
half-false.  Thomas  Hutchinson  loves  this  Province, 
and  this  town,  and  would  give  his  life  for  them." 

"  He  is  a  traitor !  "  said  Crane,  "  and  now  he  would 
force  his  detestable  tea  upon  us  !  " 

"  What  about  the  tea  ?  Does  the  newspaper  say 
anything?" 

"  Yes,  here  is  another  letter  to  the  Governor,  and  it 
is  about  the  tea.  Here,  John,  read  to  us." 

From  a  long  letter  addressed  to  the  Governor,  signed 
"  Praedicus,"  John  read  :  — 

"  Had  we  treated  the  extorters  of  this  slavish  tribute  on 
their  first  entrance  into  America  in  the  same  just  and  spirited 
manner  as  we  did  the  execrable  Stamp-masters,  we  should  not 
be  at  this  day  waiting  the  issue  of  petition  at  the  court  of 
Great  Britain.  Perhaps  it  is  not  yet  too  late  to  free  ourselves 
from  popes,  devils,  and  locusts.  The  fifth  of  November  has 
been  for  two  centuries  celebrated  in  commemoration  of  such 
deliverances." 

"  That  is  outrageous  !  "  said  Byles.  "  It  incites  the 
mob  to  more  acts  of  violence  such  as  have  already 
disgraced  it.  Is  not  the  fifth  of  November  sufficiently 
dangerous  with  the  rabble  let  loose  as  it  ever  is  ? 


IO8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

Must  they  be  incited  to  violence  ?  And  as  for  this 
man,  Hutchinson,  has  he  not  suffered  enough  ?  And 
why  should  he  suffer  at  all  ?  Have  you  no  gratitude  ? 
Think  what  he  had  done,  man !  He  saved  the  credit 
of  this  Colony.  That  we  are  rich  to-day  and  not 
groaning  under  a  debt  is  due  to  his  wisdom.  And  he 
loves  this  land.  His  ancestors  lived  and  died  here. 
He  writes  the  pages  of  its  history  with  a  love  that 
is  veneration.  And  how  have  you  treated  him  ?  How 
does  this  paper  ask  that  he  be  treated  now  ?  Repeat 
the  Stamp  Riot  ?  Think  how  the  mob  broke  into  his 
house,  scattered  his  precious  papers,  drank  his  wine, 
of  which  they  had  had  too  much  already,  and  inflicted 
upon  the  town  an  everlasting  disgrace,  and  upon  pos 
terity  an  irreparable  loss  !  " 

"  Yes ;  but  think  of  their  provocation  !  " 

"  Provocation  there  has  been,  I  know,  though  none 
to  justify  such  deeds.  Remember  your  mob  the  fifth 
of  March  !  " 

"  Be  careful  how  you  speak  of  the  Massacre ! " 
cried  Crane. 

"  I  am  careful ;  I  say  it  was  no  massacre,  but  a  mob, 
led  by  a  brutal,  dirty  slave.  They  goaded  the  sol 
diers  till  endurance  became  a  thing  impossible." 


THE   TORY    PARSON  IOQ 

"  Do  you  justify  that  murder  ? " 

"Justify  it?  No,  indeed.  The  officers  disavowed 
it.  But  the  men  had  strong  provocation.  It  was  a 
case  where  soldiers  were  placed  where  they  ought  not 
to  have  been,  face  to  face  with  a  drunken,  noisy 
rabble.  There  was  certain  to  be  trouble.  Both  were 
wrong,  the  mob  more  so  than  the  poor  soldiers, 
pestered  almost  to  death,  and  taunted  with  the  word 
that  they  dared  not  fire." 

"But  the  principle,  man  —  " 

"Yes,  the  principle!  But  first  the  people.  Who 
are  they  ?  I  stood  at  the  foot  of  School  Street  and 
saw  the  funeral  procession  of  Crispus  Attucks,  that 
half-Indian,  half-negro,  and  altogether  rowdy,  who 
should  have  been  strangled  long  before  he  was  born. 
Who  made  up  that  procession  ?  There  were  three 
thousand  in  it,  and  a  rum  lot  they  were.  They  were 
the  scum  of  Boston,  and  you  know  it." 

"Dr.  Byles,  when  an  injured  people  rise  to  protest 
against  tyranny,  we  must  expect  that  some  — " 

"  Aye,  aye !  I  know  what  you  are  about  to  say. 
As  for  tyranny,  it  is  King  George  or  King  Mob ! 
They  call  me  a  brainless  Tory,  but  I  would  rather  be 
ruled  by  one  tyrant  three  thousand  miles  away,  than 


IIO  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

by  three  thousand  tyrants  such  as  followed  yon  mis 
erable  half-breed,  and  they  not  a  mile  away.  It  is 
time  for  me  to  sup.  I  see  Polly  at  the  door  looking 
for  me.  I  must  go.  Ah,  it  begins  to  rain,  and  the 
mud  in  this  street  will  be  deeper  than  ever.  It  is 
impossible  now  for  a  carriage  to  get  through.  Yonder 
comes  a  chaise  now.  I  believe  it  is  two  of  the  Select 
men.  Yes,  here  come  two  of  our  local  tyrants.  I 
have  long  asked  them  to  repair  this  road  and  make 
it  passable.  I  wish  them  joy  of  their  own  journey 
through  it !  For  every  foot  a  man  goes  ahead,  he 
sinks  two.  Eh,  lad,  if  that  continues,  how  many  feet 
of  mud  must  yonder  Selectmen  pass  down  through  in 
going  from  here  to  the  Town  House?  Think  you  a 
mile  and  a  quarter?  A  very  proper  depth  for  such 
inefficient  officers  to  seek  their  burial !  " 

The  Doctor  moved  slowly  toward  the  fence,  timing 
his  movements  so  as  to  meet  the  chaise.  As  it  came 
nearer,  it  labored  heavily  and  sank  more  deeply  in 
the  mud.  The  horse  struggled  and  finally  came  to 
a  stop  in  mud  that  covered  -its  knees  and  the  hubs 
of  the  carriage.  The  Selectmen  plied  the  whip  to  no 
avail,  and  finally  in  disgust  were  compelled  to  dis 
mount  in  the  mud. 


THE    TORY    PARSON  III 

This  was  an  opportunity  the  Parson  could  regard 
as  nothing  less  than  providential. 

"  Ah,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  I  have  complained 
several  times  about  the  condition  of  this  street,  and 
thought  you  slow  in  attending  to  it.  I  am  glad  now 
to  see  you  stirring  in  the  matter !  " 

With  this  shot  the  Tory  parson  entered  his  house, 
leaving  to  the  Selectmen  the  disagreeable  rescue  of 
their  horse  and  chaise,  while  Crane  and  John  Far  well 
laughed  heartily  at  the  Doctor's  sally. 


CHAPTER  X 

ALL-HALLOWE'EN 

THE  last  week  in  October  was  a  happy  one  for 
John  Farwell.  He  was  in  manifest  favor  in  the  shop 
and  evidently  growing  in  the  esteem  of  his  employer. 
Crane,  however,  spent  little  of  the  time  at  his  work, 
and  was  out  almost  every  evening.  There  were  cau 
cuses  and  secret  meetings.  The  weather  was  grow 
ing  chilly,  and  there  was  need  for  secrecy,  so  the 
Liberty  Tree  was  not  the  scene  of  the  frequent  gather 
ings,  concerning  which  John  knew  more  or  less  in 
directly.  There  were  rumors  of  important  action  at 
the  North  End ;  there  were  reports  brought  by  Tom 
Lawson  of  gatherings  in  the  long  room  back  of  the 
printing-office ;  there  was  a  general  feeling  of  expec 
tancy,  and  among  the  young,  people  a  buzz  of  excite 
ment  over  two  approaching  events  which  greatly 
interested  the  young  folk  of  that  day,  —  Hallowe'en 
and  Guy  Fawkes  Day. 

112 


ALL-HALLOWE'EN  113 

One  afternoon  a  little  note  was  handed  John,  which 
he  turned  over  and  over  before  opening.  He  read 
it  with  unfeigned  satisfaction.  It  was  an  invitation 
from  Mrs.  Goodrich  to  celebrate  Hallowe'en  with 
others  at  her  home.  A  number  of  Prudence's  friends 
would  be  there,  Mrs.  Goodrich  said,  and  she  would 
be  happy  to  have  John  meet  them.  Mr.  Goodrich 
had  sufficiently  recovered  to  permit  the  celebration. 

John  could  hardly  wait  for  the  day  to  come.  This 
was  to  be  his  real  introduction  to  the  society  of  Bos 
ton.  How  should  he  act  ?  How  should  he  dress  ? 
Were  his  clothes  good  enough  ?  Had  his  training 
been  sufficiently  gentle  to  fit  him  for  a  splendid  gather 
ing  such  as  this  would  be  ?  John  tried  to  picture  to 
himself  what  the  party  would  be  like,  whom  he  would 
meet,  and  to  supply  in  advance  every  detail.  He 
thought  of  his  probable  companions  there.  Tom 
Lawson  would  be  there,  perhaps  some  of  the  Latin 
School  lads  whom  he  had  also  met ;  a  few  of  the 
other  apprentices,  no  doubt ;  and  Prudence,  ah,  yes  ! 
It  was  to  her  that  John  returned  each  time  in  his 
thoughts. 

All-hallowe'en  fell  that  year  on  a  Sunday,  and  the 
party  in  question  would  be  held  on  Monday  night. 


114        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

At  the  close  of  the  morning  service  in  the  Old  South 
Meeting-house,  John  learned  from  Tom  Lawson  that 
he  also  was  invited,  and  so  were  Will  Sewall  and  Job 
Morris.  They  would  have  a  jolly  time,  Tom  assured 
him,  and  the  fun  would  not  end  when  the  party  was 
done. 

John  approached  Mr.  Crane  with  some  hesitation, 
and  asked  permission  to  attend.  Somewhat  to  his 
surprise  Mr.  Crane  freely  gave  him  permission  to  be 
out  for  the  evening,  saying  that  he  supposed  a  cer 
tain  amount  of  folly  must  be  conceded  to  young  people 
on  that  night.  He  added  some  words  of  mild  invec 
tive  against  the  degenerate  customs  of  the  time  as 
compared  with  those  of  his  own  boyhood,  but  almost 
immediately  dropped  into  reminiscences  of  his  own 
celebrations,  which  seemed  in  no  wise  less  jolly  than 
anything  which  John  thought  likely  to  occur  at  the 
Goodrichs'.  On  the  whole,  John  counted  Crane's 
admonition  to  keep  out  of  mischief  more  in  the  light 
of  discharging  a  duty  to  the  rising  generation  than 
as  indicating  any  essential  improvement  in  social  cus 
toms  since  his  own  youth.  Indeed,  if  the  whole  truth 
were  known,  it  would  probably  appear  that,  while  each 
successive  generation  of  parents  since  Colonial  times 


ALL-HALLOWE'EN  115 

has  warned  the  next  generation  against  the  foolish 
and  mischievous  customs  of  childhood,  which  have 
ever  seemed  to  them  far  worse  than  anything  indulged 
in  during  their  youth,  the  standard  of  good  taste 
and  morality  has  steadily  risen,  and  each  generation 
has  tended  to  outgrow  some  of  the  less  praiseworthy 
customs  and  the  more  boisterous  festivities  of  its 
fathers,  while  adopting  others  a  little  more  intelli 
gent  and  a  little  less  open  to  criticism  on  the  score 
of  coarseness  and  vulgarity. 

Even  such  games  as  were  played  in  a  gathering 
like  that  to  which  John  was  going,  some  of  which 
were  a  little  too  free  and  boisterous  for  modern  taste, 
were  less  open  to  criticism  than  those  of  an  earlier 
New  England  generation. 

Monday  came  at  last,  and  the  day  seemed  a  long 
one  to  John.  It  was  hard  to  keep  from  counting  the 
hours  until  noon,  and  then  from  noon  until  six  o'clock, 
as  the  bell  struck  them  off.  Crane  had  been  in  the 
shop  but  little  these  recent  days,  and  several  nights 
he  had  been  out  late.  He  was  gone  most  of  the  day 
Monday,  but  came  into  the  shop  toward  the  close  of 
the  afternoon  and  called  John  out.  "  Go  to  the 
house  and  wash  you,  lad,"  said  he.  "The  paper 


Il6        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

will  be   coming   soon,  and  I  will  have  you  read  a  bit 
from  it  before  you  go  off  on  your  tomfoolery." 

John  quickly  washed  himself,  and  made  ready  for 
the  coming  of  the  paper.  It  was  later  than  usual, 
and  Crane  fretted  a  little  before  Tom  Lawson  came 
to  the  gate. 

"You're  late  to-day,  lad,"  said  John  Crane. 

"Yes,  sir;  the  paper  was  delayed  by  some  extra 
printing  that  came  to  the  office  to-day." 

"  And  what  may  that  have  been  ? "  asked  Crane. 

"  I  am  not  supposed  to  know,  being  only  a  printer's 
devil,"  replied  the  boy,  with  a  grin. 

"  Not  supposed  to  know,  but  you  do,  I  warrant," 
said  Crane.  "  The  time  in  which  we  are  living  now 
has  come  to  be  such  that  lads  know  well-nigh  every 
thing  they  better  not,  and  learn  precious  little  of 
what  should  concern  them.  But  tell  me,  had  your 
printing  anything  to  do  with  the  tea  ? " 

"  I  think  it  likely,  sir ;  but  you  must  ask  Edes  & 
Gill." 

"Are  they  like  to  hold  the  meeting?"  asked  Crane. 

"You  should  know  more  about  it  than  I,"  said  Tom. 
"  Have  you  heard  about  the  North  End  Caucus  ? " 

"  No  one  is  supposed  to  know  what  the  North  End 


ALL-HALLOWE'EN  117 

Caucus  does  —  least  of  all  a  lad  like  you.  What  have 
you  heard  about  it  ?  " 

"  Only  this,  that  on  Saturday  night,  a  week  ago, 
the  men  of  the  North  End  met  together,  first  swear 
ing  on  the  Bible  that  they  would  stand  together,  then 
voting  to  oppose  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  the 
vending  of  tea  in  Boston." 

"Aye,  aye,  that  is  well  enough,"  said  Crane.  "The 
North  Enders  have  ever  been  ready  with  large  talk, 
but  when  it  comes  to  action  the  South  End  will  not 
be  behind." 

"There  will  be  something  going  on  at  the  South 
End  ere  long,"  said  Tom.  "  I  have  an  errand  to 
night,  after  the  party;  do  you  mind  if  John  goes 
with  me  ? " 

"He  is  his  own  master  for  the  night,"  said  Crane, 
turning  to  John ;  "  but  you  lads  best  have  a  care  what 
sort  of  mischief  you  get  into.  What  will  you  be 
doing,  celebrating  Hallowe'en  ?  It  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  that  now  and  then  Hallowe'en  falls  on  a 
Sunday,  and  puts  a  stop  to  some  of  the  mischief  of 
you  youngsters.  Still,  this  is  the  lads'  night,  I  sup 
pose,  and  if  you  will  be  up  to  some  mischief,  let  it 
be  as  innocent  as  may  be." 


Il8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"Will  you  go  with  me,  John?"  asked  Tom.  "We 
have  fun  enough  on  hand,  but  it  is  more  than  fun." 

"Indeed  I  will,"  said  John;  and  they  agreed  to 
meet  at  the  Goodrich  party  and  go  on  together. 

For  the  first  time  the  reading  of  the  paper  seemed  to 
John  a  trifle  wearisome.  He  was  glad  when  the  supper 
bell  rang.  Supper  was  soon  over,  and  John  had  dressed 
himself  in  his  best  attire  and  started  for  the  party. 

It  was  a  gay  evening,  sure  enough.  Mrs.  Good 
rich  proved  a  charming  hostess,  and  Prudence  was 
happy  and  hospitable.  Mr.  Goodrich  appeared  to 
welcome  the  young  people,  discussed  politics  for  a 
little  time  with  Job  Morris,  who  fully  agreed  with 
his  critcisms  of  Hancock  and  Adams,  his  praise  of 
Governor  Hutchinson  and  the  King,  and  then  ex 
cused  himself,  saying  that  he  would  see  the  young 
folks  again  before  the  evening  was  over. 

Then  followed  the  games.  London  Bridge  fell 
down  and  was  rebuilt,  the  Needle's  Eye  found  its 
supply  of  thread  as  it  had  done  for  generations,  and 
the  handkerchief  was  dropped  and  found  and  its  owner 
caught  after  the  manner  of  young  people  for  centuries. 

John  had  little  chance  for  conversation  with  Pru 
dence,  but  her  greeting  was  warm,  and  John  could 


THEN  FOLLOWED  THE  GAMES. 


ALL-HALLOWE'EN  119 

not  fail  to  notice  that  both  she  and  her  mother 
appeared  anxious  and  displeased  when  Mr.  Goodrich 
and  Job  Morris  talked  of  the  tea  tax  and  the  policy 
of  the  Governor.  John  recalled  this  with  pleasure  a 
little  later  when  the  tub  of  water  was  brought  in  for 
the  apple  bobbing,  and  Job  sprang  to  assist  Pru 
dence  with  the  platter  of  apples.  Job  was  officiously 
attentive  to  Prudence,  and  Prudence,  so  it  seemed  to 
John,  cared  little  for  his  attentions.  Certainly  at  this 
time  she  appeared  to  care  little  for  them ;  for,  quite 
ignoring  Job,  she  offered  the  platter  to  John,  asking,  — 

"Will  you  take  the  apples,  please?" 

Job  could  not  tell  whether  she  had  noticed  him, 
though  he  turned  back  in  some  confusion,  but  John 
judged  from  her  conduct  that  this  was  not  the  first 
of  Job's  gallantries,  and  that  Prudence  liked  neither 
him  nor  his  politics. 

Then  came  the  bobbing.  The  apples  were  all 
afloat  upon  the  water,  and  one  after  another  picked 
them  up  with  the  teeth,  or  tried  to  do  so,  though 
sometimes  it  was  necessary  to  follow  the  elusive 
prize  to  the  very  bottom  of  the  tub  and  bring  it  up 
with  a  streaming  face  as  the  penalty. 

Then     there    was     corn-popping,    and     there    were 


I2O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

riddles,  and  games  of  forfeit  with  the  spinning 
platter  and  the  pawn  held  over  the  blinded  head, 
and  so  the  evening  wore  happily  away. 

"  I  wonder  if  any  of  you  young  people  know  what 
Hallowe'en  really  means,"  asked  Mrs.  Goodrich, 
when  they  rested  from  the  games. 

"  It  is  the  evening  of   All  Saints'  Day,"  said  John. 

"  They  had  so  many  saints  in  the  olden  times," 
suggested  Tom,  "  that  there  were  not  days  enough 
in  the  year  to  go  round,  and  they  bunched  the  lot  of 
them  that  were  left  over  into  the  first  of  November." 

"  That  is  very  nearly  true,"  said  Mrs.  Goodrich. 
"When  the  old  heathen  Pantheon  in  Rome  was 
dedicated  as  a  Christian  church  in  the  year  610,  the 
place  where  all  the  gods  had  been  worshipped  became 
a  church  for  the  veneration  of  all  martyrs." 

"  Was  that  November  first  ? "  asked  Prudence. 

"  No,  it  was  March  thirteenth,  and  at  first,  All- 
Saints'  Day  was  set  for  May  first,  but  in  the  ninth 
century  was  fixed  for  November  first.  The  heathen 
nations  of  the  North  had  great  quarterly  celebrations 
beginning  February  first,  and  the  Early  Church 
adopted  the  time  and  some  of  the  customs  of  these 
festivals." 


ALL-HALLOWEEN  121 

"  Well,  young  folk,  have  you  had  a  merry  time  ? " 
asked  Mr.  Goodrich,  entering  the  room  as  the  clock 
struck  ten. 

"A  very  merry  time,  thank  you,  sir,"  they  an 
swered,  almost  together. 

"  Very  well,  it  will  soon  be  time  for  you  to  be  going, 
and  now  before  you  go,  we  will  drink  a  tea  together." 

"Oh,  father,"  said  Prudence,  "please  don't!" 

"  Don't  ?  Why  not  ? "  he  continued,  with  mock 
cheerfulness ;  "I  am  sure  they  all  like  tea !  " 

"  I  am  afraid  not  all  of  them,"  said  Prudence. 
' "  My  dear,"  said    Mrs.    Goodrich,  "  I    don't  believe 
I    would.     They   will   be   going   home    soon,    and   tea 
will  only  keep  them  awake !  " 

"  Aha,  is  that  your  only  reason  ?  and  do  young 
folk  want  to  be  particularly  sleepy  on  Hallowe'en  ? 
Nay,  nay,  the  young  rascals  will  not  be  in  bed  for 
a  couple  of  hours  yet,  I  ween.  Moreover,  I  have  a 
mind  to  test  their  loyalty  to  our  Sovereign  Lord, 
King  George  III.  Come,  Chloe,"  he  called  to  the 
kitchen,  "  bring  us  that  tea !  " 

The  black  woman  entered  with  the  steaming  tea 
pot,  and  behind  her  came  another  tray,  laden  with 
cups  and  saucers,  sugar  and  cream. 


122  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

Mrs.  Goodrich  looked  troubled,  Prudence  was  flush 
ing  red  with  anger  and  shame ;  John  Farwell  and 
Tom  Lawson  looked  at  each  other  in  inquiry,  and 
each  one  met  the  other's  determined  look. 

A  silence  fell  upon  the  company,  at  last  broken 
by  Job  Morris.  "A  right  good  idea,"  he  said.  "No 
better  could  be  thought  of.  Fill  the  cups,  Chloe. 
We  will  pledge  ourselves  together,  and  drink  the 
health  of  Lord  North,  and  destruction  to  all  traitors." 

"Here,  Prudence,"  said  'her  father,  "pass  these 
cups  about." 

"  I I'd  rather  not,  father,"  Prudence  stammered ; 

"let  those  who  like  come  and  take  it  for  themselves." 

"  I  will  pass  it,"  said  Job  Morris,  and  one  or  two 
others  stepped  forward  with  him. 

"Prudence,"  said  her  father,  sternly;  "do  as  I  tell 
you.  Take  this  cup  and  pass  it." 

His  tone  was  stern  and  his  look  was  dark  and 
threatening;  his  face,  sallow  and  pale  from  his  re 
cent.,  illness,  had  something  startling  in  it  now. 

Prudence  thought  a  moment,  and  then,  remember 
ing  a  daughter's  duty  to  obey,  took  the  cup  with 
downcast  look  and  held  it  hesitatingly. 

"  Pass  it,"  said  her  father.     "  Pass  it  to  the  young 


ALL-HALLOWEEN  123 

man  who  went  with  you  for  the  nurse.  Here,  Master 
Farwell,  drink  you  to  the  health  of  King  George." 

"  I  will  drink  to  the  health  of  King  George,"  John 
hesitatingly  answered,  "but  I  prefer " 

"  Drink,  then,"  interrupted  Mr.  Goodrich. 

John  glanced  at  Prudence.  She  did  not  raise  her 
eyes  to  his,  but  stood  holding  the  cup,  without  extend 
ing  it. 

Mr.  Goodrich  became  almost  savage  in  his  evident 
anger.  He  waited  for  a  moment,  visibly  trembling 
in  his  weakness  and  excitement. 

Still  John  hesitated,  but  Prudence  herself  was  un 
able  to  choose  between  her  own  convictions  and 
obedience  to  her  father.  John  tried  to  read  in  her 
face  some  thought  that  would  be  a  guide  to  him. 
He  felt  that  at  all  events  he  must  relieve  her,  and 
with  trembling  hand  he  took  the  cup. 

A  moment  he  stood  still  looking  at  her,  and  then 
for  the  first  time  her  eyes  were  raised  to  his.  It 
was  only  for  a  moment,  yet  in  that  moment  John's 
look  was  a  question,  hers  an  answer. 

Then  all  John's  hesitation  vanished.  "  Mr.  Good 
rich,"  said  he,  "  I  am  sorry  to  seem  discourteous  to 
my  host,  even  though  you  forget  the  rights  of  your 


124        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

guests.  I  would  gladly  drink  the  health  of  King 
George.  Long  may  he  live  and  be  delivered  from 
the  devices  of  evil  men  who  now  plot  against  the 
liberties  of  these  Colonies !  But  if  I  drink  his  health, 
it  must  be  in  a  cup  of  cold  water.  I  will  not  drink 
that  which  has  become  the  symbol  of  tyranny  to 
these  Colonies." 

Again  John  paused,  and  his  eye  caught  that  of 
Prudence.  She  was  standing  with  her  back  toward 
her  father,  facing  John,  and  John  read  in  one  flash 
of  her  eye  her  approval  and  gratitude. 

"  Drink  it !  "  shouted  her  father,  now  almost  insane 
with  rage,  and  tottering  as  he  walked. 

He  started  threateningly  toward  John.  John  hesi 
tated  no  longer.  A  great  wave  of  indignation  swept 
over  him,  and  with  a  sudden  gesture,  he  threw  the 
tea,  cup  and  all,  against  the  blazing  back-log  in  the 
open  fire,  then  handed  the  saucer  to  Prudence,  and 
turned  to  meet  her  angry  father. 

"  Good,  good !  "  cried  Tom  Lawson ;  "  so  perish  the 
ships    that    are    bringing    more    of    the    cursed    stuff 
across  to  us  !  " 
v  "  Leave  my  house !  "  shouted  Mr.  Goodrich. 

"Father — "  interposed  Prudence. 


ALL-HALLOWEEN  125 

"  My  dear !  "  pleaded  Mrs.  Goodrich. 

"  Silence  !  "  said  he. 

"You  are  still  sick,  my  dear,"  entreated  Mrs.  Good 
rich.  "  You  must  not  excite  yourself  so !  " 

"  I  will  do  as  I  like  in  my  own  house !  "  he  thun 
dered.  "  I  will  have  no  strutting  young  coxcombs 
here  breathing  out  their  disloyalty  and  smashing  my 
china !  Begone,  you  young  vandal,  or  I  will  have 
you  arrested  for  your  insolence  and  the  damage  done 
my  property." 

John  started  toward  the  door,  forgetting  until  he 
was  well  out  of  doors,  that  he  had  placed  his  hat 
in  a  room  upstairs.  The  need  of  a  hat  was  forgotten 
in  his  anger  and  excitement,  but  the  cold  air  upon 
his  head  speedily  turned  him  back.  Just  inside  the 
porch  he  met  Prudence,  who  handed  the  hat  to  him. 

"  I  thought  you  would  not  care  to  return  for  it," 
said  she,  "and  I  brought  it  out  to  you." 

"Thank  you!"  said  John. 

"  I  am  very,  very  sorry  it  happened.  I  hope  you 
won't  feel  harsh  toward  father.  He  has  just  been 
sick,  you  know,  and  then  he  feels  very  strongly 
about  these  political  matters." 

"  I   have  no  occasion  to  feel  harshly  toward  him," 


126  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

said  John,  "only  I  don't but  never  mind  that. 

I  hope  you  don't  feel  unkindly  toward  me.  I  am 
sorry  I  broke  your  cup.  I  was  so  angry." 

"  The  cup  ?  don't  mention  that.  You  did  just 
splendidly ! " 

"I  would  not  have  broken  the  cup,"  said  he,  "if 
I  had  had  a  moment  to  think,  but  at  the  time  it  did 
not  occur  to  me  that  I  could  spill  the  tea  without 
throwing  cup  and  all  together." 

"  I  am  glad  you  did  not  throw  the  saucer,  too," 
said  she. 

"Was  the  saucer  of  more  value  than  the  cup?" 
asked  John. 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  said,  "  not  at  all,  and  yet,  —  yes, 
the  saucer  is  of  more  value  than  the  cup.  I  am  glad 
you  did  not  break  it." 

"  Prudence  !  "  shouted  her  father  just  inside  the  door. 

"  Good  night,"  said  she,  and  hurried  within. 

John  started  slowly  toward  the  gate,  and  was  joined 
by  Tom  Lawson  before  reaching  it;  while  hard  be 
hind  them  came  most  of  the  others.  "You  did 
finely,  old  fellow,  and  you  fought  it  out  for  us  all." 

"  Are   they   all   coming  ? "    asked   John. 

"  I  guess  so,"  replied  Tom. 


ALL-HALLOWE'EN  127 

"  Two  or  three  will  stay  perhaps  to  drink  tea  with 
him ;  methinks  it  will  be  a  solemn  kind  of  drinking 
after  what  has  happened.  I  don't  believe  any  of 
them  care  for  it,  and  the  most  of  them  are  coming 
away  already." 

"  I  am  sorry  he  singled  me  out,"  said  John.  "  I 
do  not  know  why  he  should !  " 

"  Partly,  because  you  are  at  Crane's,  I  suppose, 
and  partly,  because  he  has  a  pretext  in  your  kindness 
to  Prudence.  He  had  always  been  a  rabid  old  fellow, 
and  is  one  of  the  bitterest  of  the  Tories.  His  sick 
ness  does  not  improve  his  temper  any,  I  judge,  or 
make  him  more  discreet.  He  will  get  a  coat  of  tar 
and  feathers  one  of  these  nights  from  Captain  Mack 
intosh  and  '  his  Chickens,'  if  he  does  not  stop  talking 
as  he  has  been  talking  lately." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  John. 

"  I  should  think  you  would  like  to  help  give  it  to 
him."  Tom  ventured  this  as  a  feeler. 

"  I  might,  so  far  as  he  is  concerned,"  replied  John, 
"but  —  " 

"  Yes,  I  understand,"  said  Tom.  "  It  is  Prudence 
you  are  thinking  of,  I  warrant  you." 

John  winced  a  little  and  answered    somewhat   hur- 


128  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

riedly,  "  That  is  neither  here  nor  there.  I  have  little 
liking  for  this  sort  of  thing.  I  have  no  fondness 
for  being  in  trouble,  and  I  have  been  in  it,  first  one 
thing  and  then  another,  ever  since  I  came  to  this 
town." 

"There  is  nothing  to  feel  very  bad  about  in  what 
happened  to-night,"  said  Tom.  "  Let  us  go  to  the 
print-shop,  and  then  on  our  errand." 

They  were  passing  down  Ann  Street  when  they 
were  met  by  a  man  walking  hurriedly  toward  them 
from  the  town. 

"  Ah,  Tom,"  said  he,  "  I  am  looking  for  you." 

"Mr.  Edes!"  said  Tom.     "What  is  it,  sir?" 

"  I  want  you  to  run  an  errand  for  me." 

"  I  expected  it,  sir." 

"It  is  not  the  one  of  which  I  told  you,  but  one 
more  important.  Who  is  this  lad  with  you  ?  " 

"  This  is  my  friend,  John  Farwell,  sir." 

"Is  he  trusty?" 

"  Aye,  that  he  is  !     Do  you  want  him  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  both  of  you.  Can  _you  keep  a  secret,  young 
man?" 

"  I  can  keep  any  secret  that  is  an  honorable  one, 
sir,"  said  John.  "  I  wish  to  know  no  others." 


ALL-HALLOWEEN  1 29 

"  Aye,  aye,  you  will  learn  no  others  from  me.  Are 
you  a  Patriot,  lad,  or  a  Tory  ? " 

"You  would  not  ask  that,"  said  Tom,  "if  you  had 
seen  him  fling  the  tea  back  in  the  face  of  the  King 
as  he  has  done  this  night." 

"What  is  that?"  asked  Mr.  Edes. 

"  We  have  been  having  a  Hallowe'en  party,"  said 
Tom,  "  and  old  Goodrich,  the  Tory,  was  determined 
we  should  drink  tea  before  we  came  away,  and  he 
thrust  it  upon  us  in  a  most  unmannerly  fashion,  and 
forced  his  daughter,  who  was  our  hostess,  to  offer 
it  to  us,  so  that  it  was  hard  to  refuse.  But  John  here, 
to  whom  the  cup  first  came,  flung  it,  tea  and  all, 
into  the  fire,  and  so  made  answer  for  us  also,  and 
brought  down  the  wrath  of  old  Goodrich  upon  him 
self." 

"I  like  that,"  said  Mr.  Edes.  "Your  elders  will 
have  the  same  thing  to  do  on  a  larger  scale  ere 
many  days,  I  warrant,  for  the  King  himself  is  doing 
to  Boston  what  Goodrich  did  to  you  youngsters.  But, 
here,  let  me  tell  you  my  errand,  —  a  fine  one  it  is 
for  Hallowe'en,  too !  Stand  out  here  in  the  moon 
light,  while  I  read  you  this  letter." 

The    moon   was    shining    very   bright,    and    by   its 


I3O        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

light  Edes  read   the  letter,  whose  contents  he   knew 
so  well  that  he  might  have  given  them  in  the  dark. 

"BOSTON,  ist  November,  1773. 
"  RICHARD  CLARKE  AND  SON  : 

"The  Freemen  of  this  Province  understand,  from  good 
authority,  that  there  is  a  quantity  of  tea  consigned  to  your 
house  by  the  East  India  Company,  which  is  destructive  to 
the  happiness  of  every  well-wisher  to  his  country.  It  is 
therefore  expected  that  you  personally  appear  at  Liberty 
Tree,  on  Wednesday  next,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  day, 
to  make  a  public  resignation  of  your  commission,  agreeable 
to  a  notification  of  this  day  for  that  purpose. 
"Fail  not  upon  your  peril. 

"O.  C." 

"  What  do  you  wish  us  to  do  with  it  ?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  Deliver  it,"  said  Mr.  Edes.  "  Put  it  into  the  hands 
of  the  elder  Clarke.  There  are  other  letters  for 
other  consignees,  though  you  are  to  deliver  but  this 
one.  Knock  at  the  door,  and  keep  knocking  until 
you  get  them  up,  then  give  the  old  gentleman  this 
letter.  You  know  the  house  on  School  Street,  near 
the  Latin  School.  But  go  not  yet  about  this ;  it 
is  only  ten  o'clock  and  quite  too  early.  Let  them 
get  to  bed  and  let  the  knocking  rouse  them  and 


ALL-HALLOWEEN  13! 

frighten  them  a  bit  if  it  will.  Meantime,  lest  you 
get  into  mischief  on  Hallowe'en,  stick  up  these  hand 
bills  along  Middle  Street  and  Queen  and  Tremont. 
Put  one  on  every  corner.  It  is  a  bill  calling  for  the 
Freemen  of  Boston  to  meet  at  the  Liberty  Tree  at 
twelve  o'clock,  Wednesday,  to  receive  the  resignations 
of  the  tea  factors." 

"We  will  do  it,  sir,"   said  Tom,    "we  will   do   it." 

"  Have  a  care  how  you  do  it,"  said  Mr.  Edes.  "  It 
is  better  you  than  one  of  the  men.  You  will  be  less 
likely  to  be  recognized,  but  see  that  Mr.  Clarke  gets 
the  letter." 

For  a  good  two  hours,  until  midnight,  the  boys 
walked  the  streets,  posting  up  on  every  corner  the 
flaming  handbill  which  called  the  meeting  at  the  Lib 
erty  Tree. 

"The  North  End  will  have  a  chance  to  show  its 
patriotism  now,"  said  Tom. 

"  And  it  will  show  it,  will  it  not  ? "    asked  John. 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  though  the  South  End  professes 
to  think  there  is  more  wind  than  water  in  the  talk  of 
the  North  Enders." 

"And  what  do  the  North  End  folk  say  about  the 
South  End  ? " 


132        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Oh,  the  same,  and  with  about  as  good  reason,  for 
aught  I  know.  The  truth  is,  there  are  brave  men  and 
braggarts  at  both  ends  of  the  town,  but  they  all  come 
together  at  the  Liberty  Tree." 


CHAPTER  XI 

A   PRISONER   OF   WAR 

THE  bright  moon  was  swinging  high  in  the  heavens 
when  John  Farwell  and  Tom  Lawson  approached  a 
stately  house  in  School  Street. 

"  Shall  we  go  in  quietly  ? "    asked  John. 

"  No,  it  is  no  harm  if  we  make  a  noise,"  said  Tom ; 
"  we  will  wake  them  up  !  " 

They  opened  the  gate  and  let  it  slam  hard  after 
them,  and,  seizing  the  heavy  knocker  on  the  door, 
pounded  and  pounded,  until  they  could  hear  the 
echoes  in  the  great  hall  within. 

A  window  opened  above  their  heads. 

"  Who  is  there  ? "    demanded  an  angry  voice. 

"A  letter  for  you,  sir,"   said  John. 

"A  letter?     Where  from?" 

"  A  letter  of  importance,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Who  sends  a  letter  this  time  of  night  ? " 

"  Come   down   and   get   it,   sir,    and   you   will   see." 


134        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"It  is  an  imposition,"  said  the  voice  above,  "to  be 
called  up  at  this  time  of  night!  You  have  wakened 
the  whole  house  !  " 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  a  servant 
demanded,  "What  are  you  doing  here,  you  young 
villains  ? " 

"We  have  a  letter  for  Master  Clarke,"  said  Tom. 
"  We  want  to  place  it  in  his  own  hand." 

"Then  call  at  his  shop  in  the  morning,  and  give  it 
to  him  there." 

"  Nay ;  we  must  see  that  he  gets  it  to-night." 

"  Bring  it  to  me,"  called  a  figure  in  gown  and 
nightcap,  from  the  head  of  the  stairway ;  and,  looking 
in,  John  and  Tom  saw  the  elder  Clarke,  a  dignified 
old  gentleman,  candle  in  hand,  waiting  for  the  letter. 
Tom  handed  it  to  the  servant,  who  quickly  carried 
it  up  the  stairs,  leaving  the  door  open  behind  him. 

"Come,"  said  John  to  Tom,  "we  have  performed 
our  errand.  Let  us  go." 

They  turned  from  the  door,  and  were  starting 
toward  the  gate.  Mr.  Clarke  took  the  letter,  and 
quickly  broke  the  seal. 

"  Who  brings  this  letter  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  Here, 
here,  you  young  scoundrels,  wait  a  minute !  " 


A    PRISONER    OF    WAR  135 

The  boys'  hearts  were  beating  hard  now,  and  they 
were  tempted  to  run. 

"  Let  us  walk,"  said  John ;  and  so  they  went  on 
to  the  gate. 

"Catch  them  !  Catch  them  !  "  called  Clarke.  "  Bring 
them  here !  I  will  find  out  who  brings  me  an  insult 
ing  letter  such  as  this ! " 

The  gate  slammed  hard  behind  the  boys,  and  they 
walked  out  into  School  Street;  but  just  as  they  came 
through  the  gate  two  half-dressed  servants  came 
bounding  toward  them,  in  hot  pursuit. 

"  Run  !  "  said  Tom ;  and  run  they  did. 

The  boys  started  up  School  Street,  and  turned  into 
Beacon. 

"  Make  for  the  Common !  "  said  Tom  ;  and  toward 
the  Common  they  went.  If  they  could  once  gain  that 
wilderness,  they  might  hope  to  escape,  for  there  were 
hiding-places  behind  trees  and  stones.  Yet  the  moon 
light  was  so  clear  that  this  hope  was  quickly  dispelled, 
and  they  soon  saw  that  their  only  chance  of  escape 
was  in  outrunning  their  pursuers.  This  was  not  easy, 
for  the  men  after  them  were  strong  and  fleet,  and, 
though  the  boys  ran  with  all  their  might,  their  hearts 
beat  hard  and  their  breath  came  short  and  fast  as  they 
felt  their  pursuers  gaining  upon  them. 


136  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

They  reached  the  old  Granary,  but  found  themselves 
well  out  in  the  open,  with  every  object  distinct  in  the 
moonlight,  and  nothing  near  at  hand  that  afforded 
them  any  shelter  or  concealment. 

"Keep  to  the  right,"  said  Tom,  "and  I  will  take 
this  way,  and  we  will  meet  at  the  corner  of  Frog 
Lane." 

John  was  not  sure  that  it  was  wise  to  separate,  yet 
saw  plainly  that  the  chances  were  small  for  any  place 
of  concealment  for  two.  He  turned  to  the  right,  and 
soon  found  that  both  pursuers  were  after  him,  not 
having  noticed,  apparently,  that  one  of  the  boys  had 
gone  the  other  way. 

In  the  distance  he  saw  the  glimmer  of  the  Frog 
Pond  and  ran  toward  it.  If  he  could  put  that  be 
tween  him  and  his  pursuers,  he  thought,  he  might 
run  round  it  once  or  twice,  and  then  dart  to  a  dis 
tance. 

He  moved  to  the  left  to  run  around  the  hill.  This 
brought  him  to  the  Old  Elm  where  Mrs.  Ann  Hibbins 
had  been  hanged.  He  stopped  suddenly  in  terror. 
Something  was  hanging  there  now.  A  human  figure 
it  seemed. 

John   turned   for  a  moment   in   horror,   almost   for- 


A    PRISONER    OF    WAR  137 

getting  his  own  purpose  of  escape,  and  the  men 
gained  fast  upon  him.  He  started  again  as  he  heard 
their  footsteps,  and  ran  into  the  arms  of  Job  Morris, 
who,  at  that  moment,  sprang  from  behind  the  tree. 

"  I  have  him  !  "    he  shouted.     "  Here  he  is." 

John  struggled  in  the  arms  of  his  captor,  then  with 
a  desperate  effort  he  half-freed  himself,  and  struck 
him  with  all  his  might.  Had  he  been  fully  free,  the 
blow  would  have  felled  his  antagonist  to  the  ground, 
but  as  it  was,  Job  reeled  for  a  moment  and  then 
rushed  back  again  like  a  wounded  tiger.  Again 
John  struck  him,  but  this  time  met  an  opposing  blow, 
and  then  they  were  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter, 
which  had  hardly  begun  before  he  was  seized  from 
behind  by  the  two  half-dressed  servants,  who  held 
him  tight  while  Job  rained  blow  after  blow  upon 
him. 

"  Here,  here,  young  fellow,  that  is  enough  ! "  said 
one  of  the  servants.  "  Zounds,  what  a  savage  you 
are !  I  am  willing  you  should  thrash  him  a  bit  for 
the  trouble  he  has  given  us  in  catching  him,  but  you 
need  not  hit  a  man  when  he  is  down,  at  least  not  so 
many  times." 

"  I  will   hit   him   up   or   down,  that    I  will ! "    cried 


138         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

Job,  rushing  at  the  helpless  John  again,  but  the  ser 
vant  kept  him  back. 

"  Let  it  rest  there  now,"  he  said,  "  and  begone 
from  here  before  we  have  to  thrash  you.  Come  here, 
you  young  rascal ;  you  have  given  us  a  hard  chase. 
Where  is  the  other  young  villain  ? " 

Panting  for  breath  and  smarting  from  the  blows 
which  he  had  received,  John  made  no  answer ;  and 
the  men,  one  of  whom  had  started  in  slippers  and 
had  lost  them  by  the  way,  and  the  other,  clad  •  only  in 
shirt  and  breeches,  dragged  him  unwillingly  back  to 
the  house. 

"  Did  you  get  them  ? "  cried  Mr.  Clarke,  appear 
ing  again  at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 

"  One  of  them,  sir,  but  the  other  got  away." 

"Well,  keep  the  one  you  have  until  morning.  This 
is  an  insulting  and  menacing  letter,  and  one  that 
constitutes  a  breach  of  the  peace.  I  will  have  the 
young  wretch  before  the  Court  in  the  morning ;  and 
what  is  more,  I  will  find  out  who  is  back  of  this  busi 
ness.  Fetch  him  here  to  me  I" 

They  led  John  up  the  stairs.  It  was  a  very  angry 
man  who  had  gotten  out  of  bed  a  second  time  that  night. 

"  Who  are  you  ? "    he  demanded. 


A    PRISONER    OF    WAR  139 

"  I  am  the  lad  that  brought  the  message,"  said 
John. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"A  name  I  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of." 

"  You  lie,"  said  Clarke ;  "  you  have  reason  enough 
to  be  ashamed  of  it  for  what  you  have  done  this 
night.  If  you  are  not  ashamed  of  it,  tell  me." 

"  It  is  not  for  shame  that  I  refuse,  but  I  am  not 
sure  of  your  right  to  ask  it,  nor  of  others  whose 
names  mine  might  reveal." 

"  It  is  their  names  I  want  to  know.  I  care  not  a 
fig  for  yours.  Who  sent  you  ? " 

"  The  men  from  whom  the  letter  comes,"  said  John. 

"Yes,  yes,  and  who  are  they?  Come,  answer  me 
not  in  this  round-about  way.  Tell  me  who  sent  you 
here." 

"  I  cannot  do  it,  sir,"  said  John.  "  The  message 
speaks  for  itself." 

"Take  him  below,"  said  Clarke,  "and  keep  him 
until  morning  —  nay,  nay,  take  him  up  to  that  little 
room  on  the  upper  floor  and  mind  you  see  to  the 
window  well,  and  watch  him  until  morning.  I  will 
know  his  name  and  who  sent  him,  or  I  will  know 
the  reason  why  !  " 


CHAPTER  XII 

A   FIGHT   AT   THE   FROG   POND 

TOM  LAWSON  ran  along  the  Tremont  Street  side  of 
the  Common,  or  the  Common  Street  side,  as  it  was 
then  called,  and  had  nearly  run  its  length  before  he 
felt  certain  that  he  was  not  pursued.  Then  he 
slowed  up,  all  out  of  breath  as  he  was,  and  walked 
slowly  toward  Frog  Lane.  He  waited  a  few  minutes, 
and  hearing  no  one  approaching,  started  along  on 
the  path  diagonally  crossing  toward  Joy  Street,  hop 
ing  to  meet  his  friend  on  the  way. 

The  Common  seemed  deserted.  No  one,  not  a 
living  soul,  met  him  on  the  way.  He  came  under 
the  brow  of  the  old  powder-house  hill,  and  stopped 
a  moment  in  horror  by  the  Old  Elm. 

There  in  the  moonlight  was  a  swinging  figure. 
More  than  one  culprit  had  swung  from  its  branches 
in  the  old  days  of  the  town,  besides  a  witch  or  two. 

140 


A    FIGHT   AT   THE    FROG    POND  14! 

and  now  and  then  a  Quaker ;  now  the  executions 
were  no  longer  performed  upon  the  Common,  but 
upon  the  great  black  gallows  that  stood  upon  the 
Neck. 

Horrified,  and  then  reassured,  Tom  drew  nearer 
and  discovered  a  placard  labelled :  — 

"  SAM  ADAMS  !    So  PERISH  ALL  THE  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

KING  ! " 

Then  Tom  realized  that  he  had  come  upon  the 
work  of  some  of  the  Tory  lads,  using  the  evening 
like  himself  for  their  own  political  purposes. 

A  moment  he  paused  and  looked  upon  it.  Then, 
climbing  up  the  tree,  he  cut  the  figure  loose,  and 
descending,  dragged  it  to  the  Frog  Pond  and  threw 
it  in. 

A  startled  figure  rose  at  the  splash  and  turned 
upon  him.  Tom  looked,  and  there  in  the  moonlight 
stood  Job  Morris,  who  had  been  kneeling  beside  the 
Frog  Pond,  bathing  a  bleeding  nose. 

"What  are  you  doing  there?"  Job  demanded. 

"  None  of  your  business,"  said  Tom.  "  What  are 
you  doing  here  ? " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  cutting  down  that  effigy  ? " 


142  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  I  want  to  make  room  for  Tories ! " 

"  I  have  a  notion  to  throw  you  into  the  Pond 
after  him,"  cried  Job. 

"  If  you  tell  me  that  you  hung  him  there,  I  will 
throw  you  in !  "  retorted  Tom. 

"  Come  on,"  Job  excitedly  replied ;  "  I  have  thrashed 
one  rebel  to-night,  and  I  will  thrash  another  if  you 
say  so." 

"  You  thrashed  him,  did  you  ?  And  where  may  he 
be  found  washing  his  bloody  nose  ? " 

Job  winced  under  the  sting  of  the  words,  and 
wiped  his  nose  upon  his  cuff.  "  He  can't  be  found," 
said  he,  "  at  least,  not  outside  of  jail.  The  constable 
has  him  by  this  time,  I  ween,  or  if  not  the  constable, 
then  Master  Clarke." 

"  Do  you  mean  it  was  with  John  Farwell  that  you 
fought  ? " 

"  None  other,"  said  Job.  "  I  caught  him  and 
handed  him  over  to  Clarke's  servants,  and  it  will  be 
a  long  night  before  he  gets  away,  I'll  warrant  you." 

"You  contemptible  Tory,"- shouted  Tom.  "Defend 
yourself,  if  you  are  man  enough,  for  before  I  am 
done  with  you,  you  will  remember  this  night  though 
you  live  to  be  a  hundred  years  old !  " 


A    FIGHT    AT    THE    FROG    POND  143 

"  Defend  your  own  self,"  cried  Job ;  "  for  I  am  not 
less  ready  to  fight  than  yourself.  Take  that ! "  and 
he  struck  a  savage  blow  at  Tom.  Tom  was  shorter 
than  Job  by  a  good  three  inches,  but  more  stocky 
and  quite  as  agile,  and  while  his  arms  were  shorter 
they  rained  heavier  blows.  They  were  hard  at  it 
now,  striking  and  parrying,  first  one  struck  and  then 
the  other,  with  no  one  present  to  interfere  or  call 
time  between  them.  At  first  Tom  was  on  the  de 
fensive,  meeting  the  onset  of  his  antagonist,  but  as 
Job  began  to  lose  his  self-control  and  strike  more  wildly, 
Tom  forced  the  battle,  —  Job,  stepping  backward  be 
fore  him,  step  by  step,  until  he  stood  on  the  very 
brink  of  the  Frog  Pond.  Then  he  struck  a  blow 
with  all  his  might  which  landed  full  on  Job's  chest, 
and  Job,  still  further  retreating  and  half-reeling, 
tripped  backward  and  fell  into  the  mud  and  shallow 
water. 

"  Good  riddance  to  the  Tory  and  his  own  stuffed 
image !  "  cried  Tom.  "  I  know  not  which  one  of  you 
is  best  worth  pulling  out."  Walking  away  a  little 
distance,  he  waited  until  Job  scrambled  to  terra 
firma,  and  then  walked  away  toward  School  Street, 
leaving  Job  to  find  his  way  home  alone. 


144         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

Tom  hurried  to  the  Clarke  house.  He  did  not  as 
before  go  through  the  gate,  but  stealthily  clambered 
over  the  back  fence,  and  cautiously  approaching  the 
house,  looked  in  through  the  windows.  The  front  of 
the  house  was  already  dark,  save  one  light  in  the 
room  where  the  nightcapped  head  had  appeared, 
and  this  soon  disappeared.  Tom  walked  round  the 
house,  and  on  the  back  side  found  another  light  in  a 
little  window  on  the  second  floor.  Looking  through, 
he  saw  one  of  the  servants,  and  a  moment  later  the 
face  of  John.  Tom  understood  it  instantly.  They 
had  captured  John  and  were  keeping  him  there  until 
morning.  Some  how,  some  way,  he  must  contrive  his 
escape.  Again  and  again,  he  walked  round  and 
round  the  house,  trying  to  plan  some  way  in  which  it 
could  be  accomplished.  He  thought  of  breaking  in 
one  of  the  windows  on  the  lower  floor ;  but  this,  he 
reasoned,  would  make  him  also  a  prisoner,  and  afford 
no  relief  to  John.  He  must  remain  on  the  outside, 
where  a  second  plan  could  be  tried  if  the  first  one 
failed.  There  was  no  time  to  lose,  for  more  than  one 
hour  had  been  lost  already.  Again  he  went  round 
the  house,  seeking  any  possible  entrance  and  exit 
that  was  not  guarded,  and  soon  convinced  himself 


A    FIGHT    AT    THE    FROG    POND  145 

that  his  only  hope  lay  in  getting  John  through  that 
window.  He  searched  in  the  yard  for  a  ladder  and 
found  none,  then  in  the  yards  adjacent,  but  none  was 
there.  Where  should  he  find  a  ladder? 

A  paint-shop  seemed  to  offer  the  greatest  certainty 
of  success.  Tom  made  his  way  into  the  street  again, 
and  hurried  down  Cornhill  into  Middle  Street.  Since 
the  year  1701  the  Painters'  Arms  had  stood  near 
there,  and  an  old  stone  mortar  and  pestle  used  by 
them  long  before  to  grind  their  paint,  had  since  1737 
been  known  as  the  Boston  Stone,  and  was  used  as 
the  mark  for  surveying.  There  was  still  a  paint-shop 
there,  and  in  its  rear  Tom  found  a  number  of  ladders, 
some  too  heavy  for  him  to  lift  alone,  and  some  too 
short  for  his  use.  But  he  found  one  long  enough  to 
reach  a  second-story  window  and  light  enough  for 
him  to  handle. 

The  ladder  grew  very  heavy  before  he  had  lugged 
it  to  School  Street;  and  it  was  only  by  the  utmost 
care  that  he  succeeded  in  getting  it  into  the  yard.  It 
seemed  impossible  for  him  to  raise  it  against  the 
house  without  disturbing  the  inmates,  but  at  last  the 
ladder  was  in  position.  Then  carefully  he  mounted 
it,  round  by  round,  and  peered  through  the  window 


146         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

from  which  shone  the  candlelight.  It  was  still  burn 
ing,  now  low  in  its  socket.  One  of  the  servants  lay 
fast  asleep  upon  the  floor,  his  length  barring  the 
single  door.  Tom  looked  round  the  room.  John  was 
not  there. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

THE    ESCAPE 

JOHN  confronted  the  angry  old  merchant,  at  first 
with  some  sense  of  fear,  and  then  with  increasing 
composure.  An  angry  man  is  always  at  a  disadvan 
tage.  Mr.  Clarke  was  very  angry.  Still  John  felt 
that  he  was  unquestionably  in  the  power  of  his 
captors  for  that  night,  and  he  was  troubled  about 
the  threat  of  the  Court  the  next  morning.  He  did 
not  know  how  serious  might  be  the  business  upon 
which  he  had  been  sent,  nor  what  plans  might  be 
betrayed  if  the  authors  of  the  letter  were  brought 
into  Court  through  any  revelation  that  he  might 
make. 

He  was  determined  that  they  should  learn  nothing 
from  him,  not  even  his  name,  though  never  before 
had  he  refused  to  acknowledge  it.  It  came  to  him 
with  a  sense  of  shame  now,  that  for  once  he  had  re 
fused  to  disclose  his  identity,  but  he  remembered  it 


148  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

was  another's  secret  and  not  his  own  for  which  he 
was  concealing  the  truth  about  himself.  He  was  glad 
to  be  a  stranger,  lest  being  too  easily  known,  he 
might  have  betrayed  some  plan  of  the  Patriots  that 
would  imperil  their  ultimate  success.  Calmly  he  pre 
pared  to  spend  the  night,  if  necessary,  but  deter 
mined,  if  possible,  to  make  his  escape  before  the 
morning.  There  seemed  little  hope  that  he  would  be 
able  to  accomplish  it.  The  room  into  which  he  was 
led  was  at  the  back  of  the  house,  being,  indeed, 
the  end  of  the  hall  partitioned  off  into  a  little  bed 
room.  Its  further  connection  with  the  hall  was 
shown  in  a  trap-door  through  its  ceiling  into  the 
attic  above.  There  was  a  ladder  here  when  John 
entered  the  room,  but  at  the  command  of  Mr.  Clarke, 
the  servants  removed  it.  Then  one  of  them  drew  up 
a  bench  outside  the  door  and  stretched  across  it,  and 
providing  himself  with  blankets  and  pillows,  lay  down 
to  spend  the  night. 

It  was  certain,  both  to  Mr.  Clarke  and  to  John, 
that  he  could  never  get  .through  without  wakening 
the  guard  outside.  The  other  servant,  following  his 
instructions,  sat  on  guard  within. 

John  was  shown  a  small,  narrow  bed,  where  he  was 


THE    ESCAPE  149 

told  that  he  might  lie  down.  He  had  no  heart  to 
sleep.  He  drew  off  his  boots  and  cast  himself  upon 
the  bed.  It  was  clearly  to  his  advantage,  he  thought, 
to  begin  by  appearing  contented,  and,  if  possible,  to 
persuade  his  guard  that  he  intended  to  sleep.  The 
servant  tried  in  vain  to  engage  him  in  conversation. 
John  met  his  questions  with  imperturbable  silence ; 
and,  stretched  upon  the  bed,  turned  his  eyes  hope 
lessly  from  the  door  to  the  window,  and  from  the 
window  to  the  hole  in  the  ceiling.  These  three  ave 
nues  represented  his  only  means  of  escape,  and  not 
one  seemed  promising. 

After  some  time  the  servant  exhibited  signs  of 
sleepiness,  which  increased  as  he  listened  to  the  snor 
ing  of  his  fellow-servant  on  the  bench  without.  John 
saw  him  dozing  two  or  three  times  in  the  chair  in 
which  he  sat.  At  length  he  took  the  cushion  from 
his  chair,  laid  it  upon  the  floor  at  one  side  of  the 
door,  stretched  himself  upon  the  floor  inside  as  his 
companion  was  stretched  upon  the  bench  outside,  and 
after  a  few  vain  efforts,  meant  to  appease  his  own 
conscience  rather  than  to  thwart  his  evident  desire  to 
get  a  nap,  dropped  off  into  the  soundest  of  slumbers. 

John  lay  for  a  long  time  before  he  dared  to  move ; 


I5O         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

then  he  made  some  slight  noises  to  assure  himself 
that  the  man  was  not  easily  wakened.  He  rapped 
gently  on  the  wall  and  against  the  bedpost.  No  sign 
came  from  the  sleeping  man.  Then  John  carefully 
rose  and  tiptoed  to  the  window,  hoping  that  there  he 
might  find  some  means  of  escape.  Alas,  the  window 
was  securely  barred,  it  was  far  from  the  ground, 
and  there  was  neither  ledge  nor  cornice  nor  shed-roof 
nor  eaves-spout  which  might  have  assisted  his  escape. 

John  dared  not  wait  longer.  The  window  was  out 
of  the  question,  so  also  was  the  door.  What  means 
of  escape  the  attic  might  afford  he  had  little  idea. 
To  try  it  would  place  him  one  story  further  from  the 
ground,  and  yet  it  was  just  possible  that  by  roof  or 
gable  he  might  effect  an  exit  from  there. 

He  buckled  his  shoes  together  and  cast  them  about 
his  neck.  Bred  to  the  sea,  he  was  an  expert  climber. 
Rising,  first  to  the  window-sill,  he  caught  the  top  of 
the  casing ;  then,  standing  on  the  top  of  the  lower 
sash,  rose  till  his  hands  could  reach  the  ceiling. 
Balancing  himself  on  the  window,  he  reached  back 
ward  into  the  middle  of  the  ceiling  and  caught  the 
frame  of  the  square  hole  that  led  into  the  great, 
unfinished  room  above.  Seizing  this  firmly  with 


THE    ESCAPE  1$! 

both  hands,  he  swung  loose  from  the  window,  and 
drawing  himself  up,  sat  for  a  moment  on  the  attic 
floor  and  looked  about  him. 

The  moonlight  was  streaming  in  through  a  low 
window  in  one  gable,  and  a  fainter  light  came  through 
a  corresponding  window  in  the  opposite  end.  Grateful 
for  so  much  of  hope  as  this,  he  drew  his  feet  up 
through  the  floor,  and  looking  down  saw  his  guard 
still  fast  asleep,  not  having  moved  during  the  whole 
transaction. 

John  quickly  made  his  way  along  the  attic,  which 
ran  the  whole  length  of  the  house.  There  were  loose 
boards  and  creaking  boards ;  there  were  barrels  and 
bundles  and  bandboxes  on  the  floor;  there  were  bun 
dles  of  herbs  and  pillow-cases  full  of  feathers,  and 
packages  of  clothing  suspended  from  the  low  ceiling ; 
there  were  sounds  of  scurrying  rats;  there  were  cob 
webs  in  abundance,  but  John  thought  little  of  these 
things  —  only  of  the  hope  of  freedom. 

He  made  his  way  to  the  moonlight  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  yet  feeling  that  each  step  taken  was  causing 
rafters  to  creak  in  every  room  in  the  house.  He  came 
to  the  window  and,  gently  raising  it,  thrust  his  head 
outside.  Alas,  it  looked  down  into  a  sheer  abyss,  as 


152  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

precipitous  as  that  which  he  had  seen  from  the  other 
window,  and  ten  feet  higher  from  the  ground. 

Then  John  made  his  way  to  the  other  end,  startling 
the  rats  and  gathering  cobwebs  as  he  went,  only  to  find 
the  same  thing  true.  There  was  no  escape  except  by  a 
leap  to  the  ground  below,  which  meant  certain  death. 

For  a  long  time  John  sat  despondent,  then  he 
began  a  more  careful  exploration  of  the  attic.  Per 
haps  he  might  find  another  window  at  the  side,  a 
dormer  window  —  a  window  thrust  out  at  an  unex 
pected  angle  of  the  roof.  Such  windows  were  common 
in  the  old  Colonial  houses ;  a  person  might  run  upon 
one  anywhere,  covered  on  the  inside  with  debris  and 
on  the  outside  with  shutters  that  kept  out  the  light ; 
but  a  careful  exploration  convinced  him  that  this  garret 
contained  no  such  windows. 

Then  he  thought  about  the  floor.  It  was  folly  to 
think  of  it,  but  possibly  there  was  another  trap-door 
that  led  into  another  room.  The  attic  floor  was  large 
and  covered  many  rooms ;  perhaps  there  was  an  attic 
stair.  But,  no ;  his  careful  search  revealed  but  the 
one  hole  through  which  he  had  climbed,  and  whence 
still  came  the  flickering  gleam  of  the  candle  casting 
an  oblong  reflection  on  the  rafters  above. 


THE    ESCAPE  153 

Weary  and  disheartened,  John  sat  by  the  window 
at  the  moonlit  end,  and  watched  the  moon  sink  lower 
and  lower  as  the  night  wore  on  and  the  dawn  came 
near.  It  was  not  so  many  hours,  after  all,  but  it 
seemed  an  age  that  he  was  there. 

It  must  have  been  toward  morning  when,  looking 
down,  John  saw  a  silent  figure  walking  carefully 
around  the  house.  Before  he  could  recognize  it,  it 
was  gone,  but  at  first  glance  it  seemed  to  him  that 
it  was  Tom.  Carefully  he  raised  the  window  and 
waited.  It  seemed  to  him  a  long  time,  but  at  last 
the  figure  came  again,  looking  up  at  the  windows, 
examining  the  corner  post  of  the  porch  and  minutely 
inspecting  the  house.  It  was  Tom. 

"Tom!  Tom!"  he  cried  in  a  hoarse  whisper.  "Oh, 
Tom,  look  up  here !  " 

Tom  gave  a  low  whistle,  half  in  recognition,  half  in 
surprise. 

"How  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  good,  did  you  get 
up  there  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Never  mind  that,"  said  John.  "  I  am  here.  Can 
you  help  me  down  ? " 

"  Surely  I  can,"  said  Tom.  "  I  have  a  ladder 
around  here.  Wait,  and  I  will  get  it." 


154         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"Well,  hurry;  but  wait  —  take  it  to  the  other  end. 
We  shall  be  less  likely  to  be  seen.  It  is  not  so 
light  there,  and  there  is  another  window  just  like 
this.  I  will  be  there  in  a  minute." 

John  hardly  knew  which  made  the  more  noise,  the 
creaking  boards  or  the  beating  of  his  heart,  as  he 
picked  his  way  along  the  attic  floor  to  the  window  at 
the  other  end. 

He  waited  a  few  minutes,  and  then  Tom  came 
struggling  under  the  weight  of  the  ladder,  which  he 
placed  against  the  side  of  the  house.  An  exclama 
tion  of  bitter  disappointment  came  from  both.  The 
ladder  was  too  short  by  a  full  story. 

"  Oh,  dear !  "  cried  Tom.  "  What  can  we  do  now  ? 
It  was  long  enough  for  the  other  window.  I  never 
thought  of  your  being  so  high,  and  I  don't  believe  I 
can  carry  a  longer  one  from  the  paint-shop." 

"  Perhaps  I  can  find  a  way  to  let  myself  down  as 
far  as  that,"  said  John.  "There  may  be  rope  in 
this  attic ;  I  am  sure  there  is  everything  else  here." 

Then  John  propped  up  the  window,  and  began 
another  search  of  the  attic.  There  were  broken-down 
spinning-wheels  and  dismantled  clocks,  three-legged 
pieces  of  furniture  which  ought  to  have  been  quad- 


THE    ESCAPE  155 

ruped,  skeins  of  yarn  and  bundles  of  old  linen,  but 
nothing  like  a  rope.  John  tore  some  of  the  old  gar 
ments  to  test  their  strength  and  see  if  he  could  make 
a  rope  from  them,  but  none  were  strong  enough. 

Again  it  seemed  that  he  must  give  it  up,  when  he 
made  a  discovery  that  almost  caused  him  to  cry  aloud 
for  joy.  In  the  remotest  and  darkest  corner  of  the 
rambling  old  attic,  John  found  what  had  once  been 
a  harness.  The  leather  was  old  and  dry  and  some 
of  the  straps  were  rotten  and  most  of  them  were 
gone,  but  there  still  remained  enough  for  John  to 
splice  into  a  single  strap,  long  enough  to  fasten  in 
side  and  reach  a  good  six  feet  below  the  window-sill. 

Again  he  hurried  to  the  window,  less  carefully  this 
time,  for  the  light  was  growing  brighter  at  this  end 
of  the  attic  and  more  dim  at  the  other.  John  fastened 
the  strap  securely  to  the  leg  of  a  broken  chair  and 
wedged  it  across  the  corner  of  the  window.  Then 
he  threw  his  shoes  to  the  ground  below,  and  swing 
ing  himself  free  from  the  window-sill,  grasped  the  strap 
with  both  hands  and  let  himself  down  hand  over  hand 
until  his  feet  rested  securely  on  the  topmost  round. 

"  Bravo !  "  said  Tom,  as  John  joined  him  a  moment 
later  on  the  ground  below. 


156        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"Let's  take  the  ladder  home,"  said  John.  "Wait 
a  minute  till  I  get  my  shoes  on." 

"Be  quick  about  it,"  said  Tom;  "it's  getting 
light." 

Tom  put  on  one  shoe  while  John  was  pulling  on 
the  other,  and  then  seizing  an  end  of  the  ladder 
apiece  they  hurried  through  the  back  yard  and  to 
the  fence.  Tom  was  over,  and  John  was  passing  the 
ladder  to  him,  when  a  voice  cried  from  the  window 
of  the  little  room,  "  There  he  goes !  there  he  goes ! 
There  they  both  are !  catch  them  quick ! " 

"Leave  the  ladder,  John,"  cried  Tom,  "and  get 
over  as  quick  as  you  can.  We  have  got  to  run  now 
if  ever  we  did.  No,  not  that  way !  Come ;  let  us 
run  toward  the  water." 

It  was  darker  than  when  they  were  pursued  before, 
as  the  day  was  just  beginning  and  the  moon  was 
almost  down ;  and,  too,  the  boys  had  a  longer  start 
this  time,  and  they  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
house  from  that  where  their  pursuers  started.  Their 
chance  of  escape  was  more,  favorable  now,  and  they 
ran,  determined  to  put  as  much  distance  as  possible 
between  themselves  and  their  past  experience,  before 
the  direction  of  their  flight  was  known. 


THE    ESCAPE  157 

Down  Milk  Street  they  ran  to  Pudding  Lane,1  and 
then  past  the  Town  Dock  into  Union  Street,  and  so 
into  the  mazes  of  Creek  Square,  which  was  laid  out 
in  the  general  plan  of  a  lobster,  with  claws  that  led 
out  in  all  unexpected  directions.  Then  they  came  into 
Hanover  Street,  and  crossing  over  in  the  direction  of 
the  mill  pond,  in  whose  pent-up  waters  stolen  from 
the  tides  the  mill  found  its  motive  power,  they  fol 
lowed  the  water's  edge  among  the  rope-walks  and  the 
wheelwright  shops  of  the  old  West  End  until  they 
came  to  the  Common  again. 

In  all  this  way  they  had  caught  no  sight  of  their 
pursuers.  Probably  at  no  time  had  they  been  upon 
their  track.  Now,  however,  for  the  first  time  they 
felt  safe,  and  all  their  strength  suddenly  gone.  They 
threw  themselves  on  the  ground  for  a  few  minutes  in 
the  shadow  of  the  Old  Elm,  recounting  to  each  other 
the  events  of  the  night,  and  the  adventure  of  each 
at  the  Frog  Pond. 

"We  will  have  some  more  fun,  come  Guy  Fawkes 
Day,"  said  Tom,  "and  maybe  sooner,  for  Wednesday 
we  must  be  at  the  Liberty  Tree  to  see  if  the  Clarkes 
resign  the  position  as  tea  factors." 

1  Now  Devonshire  Street. 


158        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"Aye,  aye,"  said  John;  "we  will  be  there,  indeed, 
and  from  now  on,  we  stand  together  through  thick 
and  thin.  But  if  you  call  this  fun  that  we  have 
been  having,  it  will  be  a  gay  day  for  old  Guy  Fawkes 
if  it  goes  ahead  of  Hallowe'en.  But  now  we  must 
be  going;  see,  it  is  time  for  me  to  be  at  home  and 
building  the  morning  fire ;  I  have  been  out  this  live 
long  night !  " 

"Aye,  and  my  masters,  Edes  &  Gill,  will  give  me 
little  roller  crust  to  chew,  if  I  don't  make  myself 
known  before  long  at  the  printing-shop.  Good-by ; 
it  has  been  a  rare  old  night,  but  there  are  other 
nights  coming."  And  the  jolly  Tom,  and  the  rather 
serious  but  still  jubilant  John  bade  each  other  a 
pleasant  good  morning. 

"  Dat  good-for-nothin'  boy !  I  jest  like  to  know 
why  he  don't  git  up  in  de  maunin'  and  build  dis 
yere  fire  for  me,"  sputtered  Judy  as  she  blew  the 
shavings  and  laid  on  the  kindling. 

"  I  am  here,  Judy,"  said  John.  "  I  will  attend  to 
that." 

"  For  de  Law's  sake,  wha'  for  yo'  come  in  dat-a- 
way  ?  I  thought  yo'  bin  to  bed  and  not  got  up  yit. 
Yo'  don't  mean  yo'  laid  out  all  night  ? " 


THE    ESCAPE  I 59 

For  the  first  time  John  experienced  a  feeling  of 
anxiety  concerning  his  absence. 

"  I  was  out  all  night,  Judy ;  I  did  not  mean  to  be. 
I  thought  I  should  be  home  in  good  season.  Don't 
say  anything  to  Mr.  Crane  about  it ;  please  don't !  " 

"  What  is  that  you  don't  want  anything  said  to  Mr. 
Crane  about  ? "  demanded  a  voice  behind  him. 

Tom  did  not  need  to  look.  He  knew  the  voice 
well.  "  Oh,  Mr.  Crane  !  "  he  stammered.  "  I  did  not 
want  you  to  know  I  was  out  all  night !  " 

"Why  did  you  not  want  me  to  know,  and  why 
were  you  out  all  night  ?  Out  all  night  and  home  in 
the  morning  covered  with  cobwebs  and  dirt  and  look 
ing  as  if  you  had  been  in  jail  or  slept  in  a  straw 
stack !  Out  all  night,  indeed,  and  this  is  the  second 
prank  of  the  kind  you  have  played !  Yes,  the  second 
one !  I  was  just  beginning  to  think  that  I  could  trust 
you,  but  I  had  not  forgotten;  no,  indeed!  I  had  not 
forgotten!  And  when  I  let  you  go  for  your  Hallowe'en 
tomfoolery,  trusting  you  would  come  in  early  and 
all  right,  here  you  stay  out  carousing  and  getting 
into  trouble,  and  then  come  home  in  the  morning 
bedraggled,  bespattered,  and  looking  as  if  you  had 
been  hauled  through  a  knot-hole !  " 


I6O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Mr.  Crane,"  said  John,  "  let  me  tell  you " 

"  Let  me  tell  you !  Did  I  not  just  hear  you  telling 
Judy  '  not  to  tell  me '  ?  And  what  would  you  tell  me, 
I  would  like  to  know  —  a  lie  just  as  like  as  not.  If 
you  had  anything  good  to  tell  me,  why  did  you  not 
come  yourself  instead  of  telling  Judy  not  to  tell  me. 
If  you  were  my  own  boy,  I  would  give  you  a  drub 
bing  such  as  you  would  remember  this  twelve  months. 
'  Tell  me,'  indeed !  It  is  little  you  care  to  tell  me, 
and  much  that  you  would  like  to  conceal,  the  more 
shame  to  you !  " 

It  was  useless  trying  to  reason  with  him,  and  John 
escaped  to  the  shop,  where  he  busied  himself  till 
breakfast  time  in  some  small  preparations  for  the 
day's  work. 

Then,  hearing  Judy  call,  he  went  in  to  breakfast. 

"  I  knowed  yo'd  ketch  it,"  said  Judy,  as  he  passed 
through  the  kitchen;  "but  nebbah  yo'  mind,  boy," 
she  added  sympathetically,  noticing  John's  sad  face. 
"  I  wouldn't  ha'  told  him,  no  mo'n  nothin',  ef  he 
hadn't  heerd.  Nebbah  yo'  mind ;  yo'  jest  g'long  and 
tend  to  yo'  own  bizness ;  he'll  git  over  it.  He's 
sassed  me  wuss  nor  that,  heap  o'  times.  But  law, 
honey,  yo'  got  ter  stop  this  yer  sashaying  'round  nights, 


THE    ESCAPE  l6l 

or  he'll  take  yo'  head  off,  sho's  yo'  bo'ned.  Dey 
ain't  no  use  a-talkin',  honey,  this  yere " 

"Come  in  to  breakfast,"  thundered  Crane;  and 
John  went  in  and  took  his  place  silently  at  the  table. 
"  Out  all  night  this  time,"  he  continued,  in  angry  ex 
planation  to  Mrs.  Crane.  Mrs.  Crane  looked  at  John 
kindly  and  sadly. 

"  And  a  black  eye,"  she  said.  "  You  have  been 
fighting.  Oh,  John,  I  am  so  sorry  !  " 

That  word  hurt  John  more  than  all  the  fulminations 
of  Crane ;  but  he  choked  himself  in  silence  with  his 
food,  and  kept  down  the  words  which  he  wanted  to 
speak,  but  found  no  opportunity  to  say. 

"  And  you  were  wanting  me  to  give  him  those  keys 
again,"  said  Crane  to  his  wife.  "  Aha,  young  fellow, 
it  will  be  many  a  day  before  you  handle  any  keys 
of  mine ! " 

1C 


CHAPTER   XIV 

FEW   DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN 

"A  FIRE!  A  fire!"  shouted  journeyman  Gammel 
of  John  Crane's  shop.  "  Hear  the  bells  ring !  " 

There  were  fewer  bells  in  Boston  then  than  now. 
Paul  Revere  cast  his  first  bells  after  the  Revolution ; 
and  the  earlier  bells,  being  imported,  were  few  in 
number,  but  they  were  sufficient  to  startle  the  town 
when  they  all  rang  at  once,  as  now. 

"  Another  fire  !  "  said  Bolter  to  John.  "  Here,  lad  ! 
Now's  your  time  for  more  glory  !  Climb  you  to  the 
roof  again,  and  make  yourself  a  great  man !  You'll 
sooner  be  a  fireman  than  a  carpenter !  " 

The  word  was  half-playfully,  half-tauntingly  uttered, 
and  was  a  compromise  between  John's  former  low 
estate  in  Bolter's  opinion  and  the  new  and  higher 
position  which  he  was  coming  to  occupy. 

"  It's  no  fire,"  said  John. 

"  You  fools  !  "  said  Crane.  "  Don't  you  know  this 
is  the  day  for  the  factors  to  resign  ?  An  hour  from 

162 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  163 

now  they  are  to  meet  at  Liberty  Tree  and  resign 
before  all  the  people  !  " 

"  Aye,  this  is  the  day,  and  noon's  the  hour." 

"  Work  with  both  hands  till  noon,"  said  Crane. 
"  There'll  be  nothing  doing  till  then.  John,  tell 
Mistress  Crane  we'll  not  be  here  at  noon,  but  we 
want  a  snack  in  our  hands  —  for  all  the  men,  mind." 

John  went  to  Mrs.  Crane,  who  promised  the  lunch  in 
a  jiffy,  and  prepared,  with  the  help  of  Judy,  a  trencher 
of  buttered  bread  and  crisp  doughnuts,  which  John 
bore  back  to  the  shop. 

John  carried  the  trencher  back  to  the  house,  and 
then  ran  with  all  his  might  to  overtake  the  men,  who 
were  well  on  their  way  to  the  Tree.  He  stopped  a 
moment,  however,  at  the  corner  of  Frog  Lane,  to 
read  a  notice  posted  there.  It  was  one  of  many  like 
those  he  had  posted  in  the  bright  moonlight  of  Mon 
day  night.  Many  others  besides  himself  had  been 
employed  that  Hallowe'en,  and  the  placards  were 
all  about  the  town.  It  read  :  — 

To    THE    FREEMEN    OF    THIS    AND    OTHER    TOWNS    IN    THE 

PROVINCE  :  — 

Gentlemen: — You  are  desired  to  meet  at  Liberty 
Tree,  next  Wednesday,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  day,  then 


164  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

and  there  to  hear  the  persons  to  whom  the  tea,  shipped 
by  the  East  India  Company,  is  consigned,  make  a  public 
resignation  of  their  office  as  consignees,  upon  oath.  And 
also  swear  that  they  will  reship  any  teas  that  may  be  consigned 
to  them  by  the  said  company,  by  the  first  vessel  sailing  for 

London. 

O.  C.  SECREY. 
BOSTON,  Novr.  ist,  1773. 

This  was  what  was  drawing  the  men  together. 
John  understood  it  better  than  the  most  of  them, 
though  all  had  read  the  placards  and  knew  the  pur 
pose  of  the  meeting.  It  was  a  critical  hour.  Would 
the  factors  resign  ?  If  so,  the  tea  now  on  its  way, 
would  be  sent  back  without  being  unloaded ;  if  not, 
then  who  could  tell  what  would  happen  ? 

As  John  approached  the  Tree,  he  saw  a  crowd  of 
not  less  than  five  hundred  assembled,  and  the  num 
ber  increasing  every  minute.  The  noon  hour  was 
favorable  for  such  a  gathering.  It  was  largely  com 
posed  of  apprentices,  journeymen,  and  others  who 
were  free  at  that  hour.  There  were  few  merchants 
present,  and  most  wore  their  working  clothes.  Few 
were  old  men,  and  fully  half  were  not  older  than 
John.  The  flag  was  flying  over  their  heads,  and 
could  be  seen  through  the  bare  branches  of  the  Lib- 


erty  Tree.  Some  one  was  speaking  from  an  extem 
porized  rostrum.  He  was  a  well-dressed  merchant 
about  fifty-six  or  seven,  —  William  Molineux,  one  of 
the  bravest  of  the  Patriots,  whose  death  less  than  a 
year  later  was  one  of  the  saddest  blows  to  the  Colo 
nial  cause.  John  could  not  help  contrasting  him  with 
his  average  auditor,  for  there  was  that  in  the  appear 
ance  of  the  company  gathered  which  reminded  him 
of  what  Mather  Byles  had  said  of  the  men  who 
made  up  the  funeral  procession  of  Crispus  Attucks. 
Something  of  the  same  thought  was  in  the  mind  of 
the  speaker. 

"We  have  come  to  a  time,"  he  was  saying,  "when 
we  must  think  less  of  property  and  more  of  manhood. 
In  every  great  movement  such  as  this,  not  many  high, 
not  many  mighty,  are  chosen  to  make  plain  the  way 
for  freedom.  Property  is  conservative.  Age  is  con 
servative.  It  is  upon  you,  my  friends,  —  you,  the 
sturdy,  lusty  young  men  of  Boston,  —  that  the  future 
of  this  country  depends. 

"  We  are  often  reminded  that  we  count  among  our 
numbers  few  men  of  wealth.  We  have  indeed  few 
Hancocks." 

A   long   cheer   greeted   the   name.      Hancock,  who 


l66        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

was  present,  garbed  in  a  bright  scarlet  cloak,  colored 
and  bowed,  well  pleased  with  the  flattering  recogni 
tion  given  his  name. 

"We  have  few  Hancocks,"  the  speaker  continued, 
"but  we  have  an  Adams  — " 

A  cheer  not  less  loud  greeted  "  the  last  of  the  Puri 
tans,"  as  he  was  recognized  under  the  Tree.  John 
looked  at  him  with  keen  interest.  Stern  and  inflexible, 
yet  with  a  face  that  was  kind,  plainly  dressed  yet 
with  dignified  bearing,  he  stood  the  foremost  repre 
sentative  of  America's  rights. 

"  And  we  do  not  lack  a  Phillips,  a  Church,  a 
Cooper,  a  Crane,  and  a  Revere." 

There  were  other  cheers  for  these  well-known 
names. 

"We  have  few  men  of  wealth.  Men  of  wealth 
are  conservative.  They  are  troubled  for  many  things, 
and  but  one  thing  is  needful." 

John  thought  that  he  saw  a  questioning,  dissatis 
fied  look  on  the  face  of  Dr.  Church.  He  was  present 
that  day,  and  a  member  of  the  committee  later  ap 
pointed.  He  was  a  conspicuous  and  leading  citizen, 
being  later  a  surgeon-general  in  Washington's  army, 
but  financial  embarrassment  led  him  to  desert  the 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  167 

cause  of  the  Colonies,  and  leaving  America  a  sad 
and  dishonored  man,  he  was  lost  at  sea. 

"We  need  now,"  continued  Molineux,  "not  men  of 
wealth,  but  men  of  character  and  decision.  We  need 
men  like  you,  who  are  not  blinded  by  considerations 
of  property  and  prudence.  We  need  men  who 
will  pledge  their  young  manhood  to  this  righteous 
cause.  We  are  face  to  face  with  a  crisis.  Eight 
years  ago  we  met  here  — " 

There  was  a  wild  yell  at  this  reference  to  the 
Stamp  Riots. 

"  Eight  years  ago  we  met  under  the  Liberty  Tree, 
and  marched  from  here  to  the  cursed  stamp-office 
and  left  of  it  not  a  sliver,  and  we  burned  the  effigies 
of  the  stamp-agents  in  the  flames  which  we  kindled 
with  the  wood  of  their  office." 

There  were  wild  cheers. 

"Aye ;  we  do  well  to  cheer  the  past.  But  shall  we 
match  that  deed  with  one  as  brave  ? " 

There  were  other  cheers,  though  somewhat  fainter. 

"What  do  you  think  he  wants  us  to  do?"  asked 
John  of  a  lad  at  his  side. 

"Tar  and  feather  the  Hutchinsons,  as  like  as  not," 
said  his  companion,  Will  Sewall,  of  the  Latin  School. 


l68  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Not  the  Governor  ? "  asked  John. 

"  No ;  his  sons,  who  are  consignees  of  the  tea." 

"  Listen,  he  begins  again." 

Mr.  Molineux  went  on  :  — 

"We  have  met  here  to  receive  the  resignation  of 
the  consignees  of  the  tea !  We  have  notified  them  to 
be  here.  Where  are  they  ? " 

"  They  dared  not  come ! "  shouted  a  voice  from 
the  crowd. 

"  Cowards  !  Cowards !  "  cried  a  hundred  voices, 
and  there  were  groans  and  hisses. 

"Aye,  they  dared  not  come.  And  dare  we  go  to 
them  ? " 

The  crowd  was  growing  more  ready  for  any 
adventure.  Had  they  lacked  anything  of  readiness, 
it  would  have  been  supplied  by  Captain  Mackintosh, 
who  followed  Molineux. 

"  Lads,"  he  shouted,  "  let's  bring  in  Guy  Fawkes 
Day  ahead  of  time !  " 

There  was  a  wild,  gay  cheer.  Mackintosh  consid 
ered  a  raid  of  the  sort  now.  proposed  a  lark,  and  the 
fifth  of  November  was  at  hand,  so  that  the  sugges 
tion  fell  upon  ready  ears. 

"Who  are    these    miserable    tea    factors?"    he    de- 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  169 

manded.  "  Sleek,  well-fed,  comfortable  merchants : 
Benjamin  Faneuil  and  Joshua  Winslow  and  the  sons 
of  our  most-worthy  and  highly-honored  and  dearly- 
beloved  Governor,"  —  there  was  infinite  sarcasm  in 
these  endearing  adjectives,  — "  our  dearly-beloved 
Governor,  his  Excellency  Thomas  Hutchinson.  The 
sons  of  the  man  who  has  made  himself  a  second 
Andros,  and  ought  to  be  imprisoned,  as  Andros  was 
by  an  outraged  people,  and  shipped  to  England  after 
his  unworthy  letters  that  have  betrayed  us!  Aye,  he 
should  go  to  England,  bag  and  baggage,  his  sons 
and  his  history  and  his  letters  and  the  cursed  tea !  " 
There  was  more  temperate  talk  after  this.  Adams, 
who  acted  as  chairman,  suggested  the  propriety  of 
appointing  a  committee  to  wait  upon  the  consignees, 
and  request  them  to  resign.  Such  a  committee  was 
appointed.  Molineux,  Joseph  Warren,  Dr.  Church, 
and  six  other  well-known  citizens  constituted  it,  with 
Molineux  as  chairman.  The  meeting  took  a  tempo 
rary  recess.  John  noticed  as  the  crowd  cleared  a 
little  that  the  men  nearest  the  Tree  were  of  the  more 
substantial  sort,  while  these  who  made  up  the  body 
of  the  company,  as  he  had  seen,  were  largely  appren 
tices  and  mechanics. 


I/O        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Let  us  go  with  the  Committee,"  said  Tom  Law- 
son;  "there  will  be  some  fun,  I  warrant." 

"I  am  ready,"  replied  John;   and  they  started. 

The  Committee  moved  more  slowly  than  the  crowd, 
which  hurried  along  Newbury  Street  to  where  it 
becomes  Marlborough,  and  then  Cornhill.  At  King 
Street  they  turned  toward  the  Long  Wharf,  and 
passing  the  Town  House,  they  saw  a  pale,  anxious 
face  in  the  window. 

"Look,"  said  Tom;  "there  is  Governor  Hutchinson." 

John  looked,  and  there  stood  a  richly-dressed  man 
with  a  look  of  concern  and  indecision  upon  his  face. 

The  crowd  stopped  at  the  foot  of  King  Street 
before  a  warehouse  with  an  office  on  the  ground 
floor,  and  here  they  waited  for  the  Committee  to 
approach. 

The  doors  were  barred  fast,  but  opened  a  little 
when  the  crowd  parted  and  the  Committee  rapped. 
Several  men  were  seen  within.  Mr.  Clarke,  whom 
already  the  boys  knew,  Benjamin  Faneuil,  and  the 
two  sons  of  Governor  Hutcliinson. 

"Who  are  you,  gentlemen,  and  what  is  your  busi 
ness  ? "  demanded  Clarke. 

"We  are  a  committee,"  said  Molineux. 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  I/I 

"From  whom  are  you  a  committee?"  asked  Clarke. 

"  From  the  whole  people,"  was  the  reply. 

"Who  are  the  committee?" 

"  Myself,  William  Dennie,  Doctor  Joseph  Warren, 
Doctor  Benjamin  Church,  Henderson  Inches,  Edward 
Proctor,  Nathaniel  Barber,  Ezekiel  Cheever,  and 
Gabriel  Johonott." 

The  men  inside  the  door  were  silent  a  moment 
when  they  heard  these  names,  for  these  were  repu 
table  citizens,  and  could  not  be  ignored  as  a  mere 
nameless  mob  might  have  been. 

"  What  is  your  request  ?  "  asked  one  of  the 
Hutchinsons. 

"That  you  give  us  your  word  to  sell  none  of  the 
tea  now  in  your  charge  or  any  that  may  come  to  you, 
but  reship  to  London  that  which  you  have,  and  re 
turn  that  still  to  come  in  the  same  bottoms  in  the 
ship.  Will  you  comply  ?  " 

"  I  shall  have  nothing  to  do  with  you,"  said  Clarke. 

"We  can  manage  our  own  business,"  said  Faneuil. 

"  We  want  no  dictation  from  any  irresponsible  com 
mittee.  A  committee  with  a  mob  behind  it  such  as 
this,"  said  Hutchinson,  "  deserves  but  little  courtesy 
at  the  hands  of  gentlemen  and  law-abiding  citizens." 


1/2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Wait  a  moment,  gentlemen ;  you  shall  not  have 
done  with  us  so  easily.  The  people  are  in  no  frame 
of  rnind  to  be  tampered  with.  Listen  while  I  tell 
you  what  they  have  done.  They  have  had  a  meeting 
under  the  Liberty  Tree,  declaring  that  those  who  re 
fuse  to  comply  with  the  request  of  the  people  are 
enemies  of  their  country  and  shall  be  treated  ac 
cordingly." 

"They  are  their  country's  enemies,"  replied  Hutch- 
inson,  —  "the  enemies  of  their  country,  Great  Britain, 
and  of  the  King." 

"  America  is  our  country,"  said  Molineux,  "  and  our 
sovereign  is  the  will  of  the  people." 

"  Our  sovereign  is  King  George,"  said  Clarke,  "  and 
your  words  are  treasonable." 

"Gentlemen,"  cried  Molineux,  "I  demand  again 
that  you  heed  the  mandate  of  the  people !  " 

"  The  people !  "  said  Clarke.  "  Whom  do  you  call 
the  people  ?  this  body  of  mechanics  and  apprentices  ? 
The  people  are  in  their  homes  or  at  their  work  or 
doing  business  at  their  shops.  Your  rioters  and  law 
breakers  are  not  the  people.  We  will  have  naught 
to  do  with  them." 

The    crowd    was    already    growing    impatient,    and 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  1/3 

not  in  the  least  mollified  by  aspersions  such  as 
this. 

"I  warn  you  again,"  said  Molineux;  "I  cannot  be 
responsible  for  the  consequences  if  you  refuse  the 
word  demanded  by  the  people  of  Boston." 

"Nor  I,"  sneered  Clarke;  "nor  will  I  be  respon 
sible  if  you  foment  this  disturbance  until  the  mob  be 
hind  you  bring  down  upon  it  the  vengeance  of  the 
Constable  or  the  wrath  of  the  King.  Begone  —  we 
have  done  with  you !  " 

The  men  inside  attempted  to  shut  the  doors,  but 
the  crowd  pressed  about  them  from  without  and  made 
it  impossible  to  close  them.  There  was  a  struggle, 
and  the  men  within  fell  back,  hopelessly  outnumbered. 

The  crowd,  seeing  the  attempt  to  cut  short  the 
interview  by  placing  the  doors  between  them  and  the 
consignees,  unhinged  the  doors  and  carried  them 
away. 

"Peace!  peace!"  cried  a  man  from  a  window;  "in 
the  King's  name,  I  command  the  peace !  Disperse, 
all  of  you,  and  go  to  your  homes ;  this  is  an  unlawful 
assembly." 

The  crowd  hooted  and  several  threw  stones,  one  of 
which  struck  him. 


WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Men,  men !  "  cried  Molineux,  "  stop,  or  you  will 
make  matters  worse.  We  must  not  be  a  mob,  but  a 
body  of  reasonable  men."  Then,  turning  to  the  con 
signees,  he  said :  — 

"  For  the  last  time,  gentlemen,  I  warn  you.  Have 
you  forgotten  what  happened  in  '65,  when  the  peo 
ple  held  their  first  meeting  under  the  Liberty  Tree  ? 
Have  you  forgotten  what  happened  when  Governor 
Hutchinson  and  the  stamp-officer  attempted  to  thwart 
the  will  of  the  whole  people  ?  Have  you  forgotten 
what  the  people  did  when  maddened  by  the  obsti 
nacy  of  the  officials  and  the  stupidity  of  the  King 
and  his  ministers  ?  Remember,  and  tremble  when 
you  remember,  that  the  people  await  your  answer 
under  the  Liberty  Tree." 

There  was  some  hesitation  and  a  brief  consultation 
among  the  members  of  the  Committee.  Then  they 
started  up  King  Street  in  a  body,  the  throng  some 
what  reluctantly  starting  after  them. 

As  the  crowd  thinned  out,  the  consignees  came  to 
the  window  and  watched  them  departing  with  evi 
dent  relief,  their  courage  rising  as  the  numbers  di 
minished. 

"  Magistrate,   Magistrate,"  called  Mr.  Clarke ;   "  Mr. 


FEW    DIE,    AND    NONE    RESIGN  1/5 

Hatch,  Justice  Hatch,  mark  you  yon  boy !  See  him 
—  that  fellow  yonder!  He  is  the  lad  that  brought 
the  message.  Arrest  him  !  arrest  him !  " 

The  Magistrate,  holding  one  hand  against  his  fore 
head,  which  had  been  bruised  by  the  stone,  made 
some  demonstration  as  though  he  would  rush  out  and 
seize  John,  but  the  other  consignees  interposed  and 
persuaded  the  Justice  to  desist. 

"  Be  careful,  be  careful,"  said  one  of  them ;  "  you 
will  bring  back  the  whole  mob  against  you." 

"  He  got  away,"  said  Clarke ;  "  he  escaped  through 
the  window.  Arrest  him  !  " 

"  Nay,  nay,"  interposed  Faneuil ;  "  of  what  use  would 
he  be  ?  Let  the  mob  go  and  good  riddance,  and  the 
lad  with  the  rest  of  them.  He  is  but  the  tool  of 
older  men.  They  are  the  ones  you  want,  if  any  one. 
Let  him  go !  " 

"  Go  for  this  time,  young  man,"  called  Clarke  from 
the  window,  "but  there  is  a  day  of  reckoning  coming 
for  you  yet" 

The  crowd  reassembled  at  the  Liberty  Tree.  There 
was  some  foolish  ranting  and  much  talk  of  violence, 
but  Adams,  Hancock,  and  the  others  dissuaded  the 
angry  multitude. 


176        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Go  home  to  your  work  now,"  said  Adams ;  "  to 
morrow  will  be  a  holiday.  We  will  call  a  Town 
Meeting  at  Faneuil  Hall,  and  again  insist  upon  our 
liberty." 

So,  somewhat  reluctantly,  the  meeting  adjourned, 
and  the  apprentices  and  journeymen  hurried  back  to 
their  work. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE   FIFTH   OF   NOVEMBER 

"  Remember !  Remember ! 
The  Fifth  of  November ! 
Gunpowder  treason  and  plot! 
I  know  of  no  reason 
Why  gunpowder  treason 
Should  ever  be  forgot ! " 

IT  had  not  been  forgotten  in  1773,  as  many  voices 
on  the  street  testified.  It  was  the  song  that  woke  the 
dawn,  and  continued  throughout  the  day. 

What  did  American  boys  do  before  they  had  a 
Fourth  of  July  to  celebrate  ?  They  had  a  Fifth  of 
November.  That  served  them  in  good  stead.  They 
had  inherited  the  anniversary  from  England,  where  it 
is  still  celebrated,  and  it  served  the  boys  of  the  Colo 
nial  period  as  an  annual  safety-valve.  The  appren 
tices  were  let  loose ;  the  processions  of  the  North- 
enders  and  the  Southenders  were  formed ;  and  there 
was  noise  enough  to  delight  any  boy,  and  to  drive 
any  nervous  person  to  distraction. 

"  Here    they    come ! "    shouted    Tom    Lawson   to   a 

N  177 


1/  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

group  of  South-End  boys  who  gathered  under  the 
Liberty  Tree  on  that  morning. 

At  the  word  there  appeared  a  procession  marching 
down  Newbury  Street  from  the  north. 

"  Who  are  they  ? "  asked  John. 

"They  are  the  Northenders,"  said  Tom. 

"They  come  well  out  of  town  for  their  celebration." 

"They  meet  now  with  us  under  the  Liberty  Tree. 
In  former  days  we  met  them  and  fought,  but  now 
we  meet  and  fight  for  our  rights." 

Down  Newbury  Street  came  the  procession,  bearing 
at  its  head  not  the  customary  figure  of  the  Pope  but 
an  effigy  intended  to' represent  Lord  North.  At  the 
same  time  there  came  from  the  other  direction  a 
similar  procession,  and  the  figure  borne  in  state  at  its 
head  was  Governor  Hutchinson,  and  not  poor  Guy 
Fawkes.  The  two  parties  met  under  the  Liberty 
Tree.  There  was  a  long  shout.  The  South-End 
procession  divided  and  received  the  Northenders  with 
open  ranks,  the  effigy  being  jeered  along  the  lines  as 
it  passed,  and  then  returning  in  inverse  order,  the 
Northenders  received  the  Southenders,  and  the  figure 
of  the  Governor  ran  the  same  derisive  gantlet. 

The  crowd  grew  larger  every  minute.     Apprentices, 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER 

journeymen,  and  crowds  of  sightseers  were  there  from 
all  over  Boston.  Country  boys  began  to  come  in 
over  the  Neck,  under  the  hideous  gallows,  and  through 
the  now  well-antiquated  gates.  All  of  them  stopped 
at  the  gathering  under  the  Liberty  Tree.  Then  the 
leaders  of  the  two  processions  delivered  speeches, 
high  sounding,  but  making  up  in  abuse  what  they 
lacked  in  wit,  in  which  the  Pope,  Guy  Fawkes,  Lord 
North,  and  Governor  Hutchinson  came  in  for  an 
equal  execration.  Then  the  two  figures  were  hanged 
together  on  the  Liberty  Tree,  while  the  boys  shouted 
derisively,  "  Good  riddance,  and  so  perish  all  the 
enemies  of  our  country !  " 

"  It's  soon  over,"  said  Tom.  "  But  that  is  because 
there  is  more  to  come.  This  thing  would  last  all 
day,  if  we  had  not  other  sport  ahead." 

"What  is  coming  now?"  asked  John. 

"  The  meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  is  to  be  a  meeting  there,  I  know." 

"  Aye,  and  it  will  be  a  regular  town  meeting.  The 
Tories  protested  against  the  meetings  here  as  irregu 
lar,  so  the  one  held  to-day  will  be  a  regular  meeting 
of  the  Freemen  of  Boston,  called  according  to  law 
and  custom,  and  the  action  which  will  be  taken  will 


l8o  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

represent  the  town,  and  bind  its  citizens  accordingly. 
Come,  it  is  time  for  us  to  go." 

The  crowd  seemed  to  be  of  the  same  mind.  The 
effigies  of  Lord  North  and  Governor  Hutchinson  were 
left  hanging  suspended  to  the  Liberty  Tree,  while 
the  boys  moved  down  the  street  in  almost  a  solid 
body.  The  leaders  of  the  processions  endeavored  to 
halt  and  re-form  their  respective  companies ;  but  the 
boys,  having  done  their  full  military  duty,  as  they 
regarded  it,  had  no  further  inclination  to  march  in 
profession.  They  filled  the  street  from  side  to  side, 
moving  along  and  singing  :  — 

"  Remember,  Remember! 
The  Fifth  of  November! 
Gunpowder  treason  and  plot! 
I  know  of  no  reason 
Why  gunpowder  treason 
Should  ever  be  forgot!" 

"  Bold  Freemen  are  we, 
We'll  drink  no  more  tea 
Though  King  and  Gov'nor  command. 
The  vile  Bohea, 
We'll  pitch  in  the  -sea, 
If  ever  it  comes  to  land." 

"  It  will  take  some  crowding  to  get  in,"  said  John. 
"  Yes,"    Tom   answered ;    "  they    should    have    held 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  l8l 

the  meeting  out  o.f  doors.  The  Hall  will  never  hold 
the  throng,  but  we  can  get  in  if  there  is  room  for 
a  cat." 

"  Move  on,"  said  John.  "  I  will  press  hard  be 
hind  you,  and  fill  quickly  any  space  you  may  make." 

"We  will  try  for  the  gallery,  John,  or  we  shall 
hardly  be  able  to  see  and  hear." 

They  squeezed  their  way  up  the  stairs;  by  wrig 
gling  in  here,  and  squeezing  in  there,  they  at  last 
found  themselves  on  the  gallery  rail,  directly  over 
the  platform.  Soon  a  cocked  hat  and  wig  and  red 
coat  appeared  winding  up  the  spiral  staircase  to  the 
platform,  and  the  audience  cheered  when  John  Han 
cock  took  his  place  on  the  stand.  Hard  behind 
him  was  Samuel  Adams,  who  called  the  meeting  to 
order.  The  Town  Clerk,  William  Cooper,  son  of  a 
noted  Boston  minister  of  the  same  name,  read  the 
call  for  the  meeting,  and  announced  that  this  was  a 
regular  town  meeting,  authorized  to  do  business  in 
the  name  of  the  people  of  the  town  of  Boston. 

John  Hancock  was  nominated  as  Moderator  and 
unanimously  elected. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "what  is  the  further  pleas 
ure  of  this  meeting  ?  " 


1 82  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"I  protest  against  this  meeting,"  called  a  voice 
from  the  floor. 

"  In  whose  name  do  you  protest  ? "  asked  Hancock. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Tradesmen  of  the  town  of 
Boston,"  said  the  objector. 

"  What  is  the  nature  of  the  protest  ?  " 

"It  is  contained  in  this  hand-bill,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Pass  the  hand-bill  to  the  platform !  " 

Several  people  had  been  busy  circulating  the  hand 
bill  in  the  audience,  and  one  was  now  passed  to  the 
platform.  It  was  headed  "  The  Tradesmen's  Protest," 
and  was  alleged  to  be  the  sentiments  of  the  Boston 
merchants  on  the  subject  of  Tea  Importation. 

"Let  the  Protest  be  read,"  said  John  Hancock; 
and  William  Cooper  read  the  bill. 

"  Is  this  the  voice  of  the  Tradesmen  of  Boston  ?  " 

"  No,  no !  "  shouted  voices  all  over  the  Hall. 

"  Let  the  Tradesmen  of  Boston  assemble  and  say 
whether  this  hand-bill  represents  their  sentiments,"  an 
nounced  Hancock.  "  Make  room  at  the  south  end  of 
the  Hall,  and  let  all  who  are  Tradesmen  gather  there." 

Then  followed  a  difficult  separation  of  the  crowded 
audience,  in  which  were  merchants  and  those  repre 
senting  commercial  interests  to  the  number  of  four 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  183 

hundred.  It  was  finally  accomplished,  and  they  stood 
in  close  order  at  the  south  end  of  the  Hall,  with  the 
remaining  crowd  looking  on  as  interested  spectators. 
Meanwhile,  the  town  meeting  was  held  in  abeyance, 
awaiting  their  action. 

"  Let  all  who  are  Tradesmen  hold  up  their  hands," 
said  Hancock. 

The  hands  of  those  at  the  south  end  of  the  Hall 
went  up  in  a  perfect  forest,  and  a  few  in  other  parts 
of  the  house  still  showed  that  a  number  had  been  un 
able  to  make  their  way  through  the  crowd. 

"  Make  way  for  the  others  who  are  Tradesmen ; 
let  all  assemble  in  a  body." 

The  crowd  parted  enough  to  let  the  half-dozen 
merchants  join  their  companions. 

"  Gentlemen,"  began  Hancock,  "  you  have  heard 
read  this  protest,  which  purports  to  represent  your 
sentiments.  If  this,  indeed,  be  your  true  opinion, 
then  you  consider  yourselves  aggrieved  in  not  being 
allowed  the  sale  of  tea.  Then  you  consider  this 
meeting  protesting  against  the  landing  of  tea  as  an 
infraction  upon  your  just  rights.  Then  you  desire 
that  this  meeting  be  adjourned,  and  that  similar  meet 
ings  be  considered  as  opposed  to  the  commercial  in- 


184  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

terests  of  Boston.  Is  this  your  sentiment,  gentlemen  ? 
do  you  agree  with  this  so-called  Tradesmen's  Protest  ? 
All  who  agree  to  it  say,  Aye !  " 

There  was  a  dead  silence. 

"All  of  contrary  minds  say,  No." 

A  thunderous  No  shook  the  house. 

"I  move,'.'  shouted  one  of  the  merchants,  "that 
this  so-called  Protest,  its  authors,  printers,  and  all 
circulating  it,  deserve  the  denunciation  of  this  As 
sembly.  I  move  that  it  is  unauthorized,  that  it  mis 
represents  the  Tradesmen  of  Boston,  and  that  the 
paper  itself,  and  those  who  have  made  and  circulated 
it,  are  base,  false,  scandalous,  and  opposed  to  the 
liberty  of  our  people." 

"  I  second  the  motion,"  cried  a  score  of  voices,  and 
before  the  question  could  be  put  to  the  house,  the 
merchants  passed  it  with  a  thunderous  Aye  ! 

"  I  move,"  said  another,  "  that  it  is  the  just  expectation 
of  the  town,  that  no  one  of  its  merchants  shall  under 
any  pretext  whatever  import  any  tea  liable  to  duty." 

"  I  second  the  motion,"   cried  another. 

"  Do  you  hear  the  motion,  gentlemen  ?  Are  there 
any  remarks  ?  "  asked  Hancock. 

"Mr.  Moderator!  "  called  a  voice  from  the  gallery. 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  185 

John  looked,  and  there,  just  behind  him,  stood  Mr. 
Goodrich. 

"Mr.  Moderator,  I  desire  to  make  some  remarks." 

"  Will  the  gentleman  state  his  name  ? " 

"  Goodrich,  a  merchant,  sir." 

"If  the  gentleman  is  a  merchant,  why  did  he  not 
take  his  place  with  the  other  merchants  on  the  floor  ? " 

"  Because  I  desire  no  part  nor  lot  in  these  proceed 
ings!" 

"  A  point  of  order,  Mr.  Chairman,"  a  voice  called 
from  the  floor ;  "  if  the  gentleman  desires  to  take  no 
part  in  these  proceedings,  he  had  better  be  still." 

A  shout  of  approval  followed  this  sentence. 

"Order,  gentlemen,"  said  Hancock;  "the  point  is 
not  well  taken.  We  have  no  right  to  command  the 
citizens  of  Boston  to  occupy  any  given  part  of  this 
house,  and  the  gentleman  has  a  right  to  be  heard,  if 
he  so  desires,  upon  the  question  which  is  now  before 
the  House." 

"  I  denounce  this  motion,"  said  Mr.  Goodrich,  "  as 
unauthorized  and  tyrannical.  What  business  is  it  of 
this  meeting  whether  merchants  do  or  do  not  sell 
tea  ?  What  right  has  any  other  man  to  say  how  I 
shall  conduct  my  business?  You  complain  of  tLe 


1 86  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

tyranny  of  King  George !  What  is  that  to  the  tyranny 
which  this  Assembly  would  place  upon  the  citizens 
who  do  not  agree  with  it?  What  right  has  any  man 
to  say  whether  I  shall  import  tea  or  not  ?  I  shall 
not  import  it,  if  I  have  not  reason  to  believe  the 
people  want  it,  and  if  the  gentlemen  who  are  so  ready 
to  pass  this  resolution  do  not  want  tea,  they  need  not 
buy  it.  It  is  at  my  own  risk  of  sale,  and  if  I  find 
those  who  are  willing  to  buy  it,  and  pay  their  money 
for  it,  I  claim  the  right  to  do  it.  No  man  or  assembly 
of  men  has  any  right  to  say  how  I  shall  conduct  my 
business." 

Mr.  Goodrich  sat  down,  pale  and  shaking  with  ex 
citement.  There  was  a  faint  murmur  of  approval, 
but  signs  also  of  impatience  and  one  or  two  hisses. 

"  Mr.  Chairman,"  called  a  merchant,  "  the  rights 
which  a  man  has  as  an  individual  are  one  thing,  the 
rights  which  he  has  as  a  citizen  of  a  community 
are  another.  Every  man's  rights  are  circumscribed 
by  the  rights  of  his  neighbors  and  the  rights  of  the 
body  politic,  and  those  rights  vary  with  political  exi 
gencies.  What  has  been  my  right  in  other  days  is 
not  my  right  now.  Not  because  of  any  harm  there 
is  in  tea,  but  because  of  the  principle  which  tea  repre 
sents.  We  stand  upon  that  principle !  " 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  l8/ 

"  Principle  !  "  shouted  Goodrich.  "  And  what  do 
you  call  principle  ?  This  is  a  company  of  smugglers 
and  law-breakers.  You  who  call  yourselves  Patriots 
are  really  using  a  fine  phrase  to  cover  your  law-break 
ing.  Do  I  not  know  that  smuggling  has  become  a 
fine  art  among  you  ?  I  can  point  out  in  this  Assembly, 
and  call  by  name,  many  a  man  who  votes  here  to-day 
on  what  he  calls  principle,  who  takes  his  place  as  an 
honest  tradesman,  protesting  against  oppression  and 
in  favor  of  the  rights  of  the  people  of  Boston,  who 
is  really  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  smuggler,  gain 
ing  every  penny  he  can  of  import  duty  by  fair  means 
or  foul.  When  he  may  not  save  his  threepence  a 
pound  by  smuggling  in  his  tea  and  selling  it  upon 
the  sly,  he  foments  a  popular  disturbance,  calls  out 
a  mob  on  Guy  Fawkes  Day,  posts  his  nefarious 
placards  in  the  night,  thrusts  his  threatening  letters 
into  doorways  at  midnight,  and  all  for  the  sake  of 
threepence  a  pound." 

"  You  lie !  you  lie ! "  cried  many  voices  from  the 
floor. 

"  I  lie,  do  I  ?  Do  you  deny  that  you  smuggle  ?  Who 
was  Dan  Malcolm  buried  yonder  on  Copp's  Hill,  in 
his  stone  grave  ten  feet  deep,  on  whose  stone  you 


1 88  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

have  placed  the  inscription,  '  He  was  a  true  Son  of 
Liberty,  a  Friend  to  the  Publick,  an  Enemy  of  Oppres 
sion  and  one  of  the  foremost  in  opposing  the  Revenue 
Acts  on  America  ? '  Why  did  he  oppose  those  revenue 
acts  ?  Because  he  was  a  smuggler. 

" (  No  man  'ere  feels  the  halter  draw 
With  good  opinion  of  the  law.' 

No  wonder  the  revenue  laws  are  unpopular  in  this 
company  !  Who  is  your  moderator  ?  John  Hancock  ! 
And  who  is  John  Hancock " 

"Put  him  out!  put  him  out!"  shouted  the  crowd. 

"  Aye,  aye,  you  put  me  out  because  you  do  not 
like  the  truth,"  cried  Goodrich.  "You  know  that 
what  I  say  is  true ! " 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Hancock,  "  come  to  order  ;  let 
us  have  free  speech  here." 

Yet  it  was  evident  that  Hancock  was  somewhat 
uncomfortable  under  the  lash  of  Goodrich's  tongue. 

"  Oh,  put  me  out !  "  said  Goodrich.  "  That  will  be 
free  speech,  that  will  be  a  fine  protest  against  tyranny, 
that  will  show  how  much  this  Assembly  believes  in 
individual  liberty !  Yes,  yes,  put  me  out ;  but  you 
shall  hear  the  truth.  You  are  smugglers,  law-breakers, 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  189 

traitors,  and  your  boasted  patriotism  is  a  sham  and 
a  fraud !  " 

The  crowd  caught  the  unpopular  speaker  and  bore 
him  away. 

"  For  shame  !  "  cried  John  Farwell.  "  Can  you  not 
hear  his  speech  ?  Let  him  have  his  word." 

There  were  others  who  said  the  same,  but  the 
temper  of  the  audience  was  manifestly  of  a  different 
sort.  Protesting  and  uttering  his  words  of  denun 
ciation  all  the  way,  the  offending  speaker  was  borne 
from  the  gallery  and  down  the  stairs,  the  officers 
interposing  between  him  and  his  angry  opponents 
and  taking  him  out  to  prevent  further  disturbance  of 
the  meeting. 

"There  is  a  little  truth,"  said  John,  "in  what 
Mather  Byles  said  of  the  intolerance  and  tyranny  of 
this  Assembly.  These  men  have  little  patience  with 
those  who  do  not  agree  with  them." 

"Aye,"  said  Tom,  "they  are  in  no  Jrame  of  mind 
to  be  trifled  with.  They  are  in  desperate  earnest." 

"  Mr.  Chairman,"  cried  a  merchant,  "  our  worthy 
brethren  of  Philadelphia  are  as  justly  alarmed  as  we 
at  the  proposal  of  the  East  India  Company  to  ship 
hither  a  cargo  of  tea.  They  have  already  passed  a 


IQO         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

series  of  resolutions,  which   I    move  for  our  adoption 
here.     I  will  read  them  :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  disposal  of  their  own  property  is  the 
inherent  right  of  freemen  ;  that  there  can  be  no  property  in 
that  which  another  can,  of  right,  take  from  us  without  our 
consent ;  that  the  claim  of  Parliament  to  tax  America  is,  in 
other  words,  to  claim  a  right  to  levy  contributions  at  pleasure. 

II.  That  the  duty,  imposed  by  Parliament  upon  tea  landed 
in  America,  is  a  tax  upon  the  Americans  ;  or  levying  contri 
butions  on  them  without  their  consent. 

III.  That  the  express  purpose  for  which  the  tax  is  levied 
on  the  Americans,  namely,  for  the  support  of  the  government, 
administration  of  justice,   and  the  defence  of  His  Majesty's 
dominions  in  America,  has  a  direct  tendency  to  render  assem 
blies   useless  and    to   introduce    arbitrary    government    and 
slavery. 

IV.  That  a  virtuous  and  steady  opposition  to  this  ministerial 
plan  of  governing  America  is  absolutely  necessary  to  preserve 
even  the  shadow  of  liberty,  and  it  is  a  duty  which  every  free 
man  in  America  owes    to    his    country,  to    himself,  and    his 
posterity. 

V.  That  the  resolution  lately  agreed  to  by  the  East  India 
Company,   to   send   out  their  tea-  to   America,   subjected   to 
payment   of  duties   on   its    being   landed   here,   is   an   open 
attempt  to  enforce  the  ministerial  plan,  and  a  violent  attack 
upon  the  liberties  of  America. 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  IQI 

VI.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  to  oppose  the 
attempt. 

VII.  That  whoever  shall,  directly,  or  indirectly,  countenance 
this  attempt,  or  in  any  wise  aid  or  abet  in  unloading,  receiving 
or  vending  the  tea  sent,  or  to  be  sent  out,  by  the  East  India 
Company,  while  it  remains  subject  to  a  duty  here,  is  an  enemy 
of  America." 

There  was  a  very  brief  discussion  over  the  Resolu 
tions. 

"  I  move  that  to  the  foregoing  Resolutions  we  add 
the  following :  — 

"That  a  committee  be  immediately  chosen  to  wait  on 
those  gentlemen  who,  it  is  reported,  are  appointed  by  the 
East  India  Company  to  receive  and  sell  said  tea,  and  request 
them,  from  a  regard  to  their  own  characters,  and  the  peace 
and  good  order  of  this  Town  and  Province,  immediately  to 
resign  their  appointments." 

"  The  motion  is  carried,"  said  the  Moderator.  "  And 
lest  any  one  shall  say  that  this  is  an  unauthorized  meet 
ing,  I  appoint  as  a  committee  to  wait  upon  the  con 
signees  — 

"  The  Moderator ! "  called  out  a  voice  from  the 
floor. 

"  Hancock  !  "  shouted  others. 


IQ2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

William  Cooper  rose  from  his  place.  "  All  who 
favor  the  nomination  of  the  Moderator  of  the  meeting 
as  chairman  of  the  committee,  say  Aye !  Contrary, 
No!" 

"  Aye  !  Aye  !  "  shouted  the  crowd. 

"I  thank  you,  gentlemen,"  said  Hancock.  "The 
Moderator,  then,  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town,  Mr. 
Henderson  Inches,  and  Benjamin  Austin,  Esq.,  shall 
constitute  this  committee.  The  meeting  —  " 

"  Mr.  Moderator,"  called  another  man  from  the  floor, 
"  it  has  been  said  here  to-day  that  the  merchants  of  this 
town  are  not  sincere  in  their  professions  of  unwilling 
ness  to  sell  the  tea.  We  have  every  reason  to  believe 
that  the  East  India  Company  believe  them  insincere, 
or  they  would  not  so  persist  in  their  determination 
to  ship  their  tea  here.  I  make  no  doubt  that  tea  has 
been  sold  surreptitiously,  even  by  those  who  have 
pledged  themselves  not  to  do  so.  The  real  trouble  is 
with  the  merchants." 

"Nay,"  called  a  merchant,  "the  real  trouble  is  with 
the  people,  who,  laying  the  burden  on  the  merchants, 
insist  that  the  merchant  shall  sell  it,  just  a  little  for 
friendship's  sake,  and  threaten  often  to  make  their 
purchases  at  other  shops,  if  the  merchant  will  not 
accommodate  them." 


THE    FIFTH    OF    NOVEMBER  193 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  another  man,  "the  good 
name  of  Boston  is  at  stake.  This  is  not  a  local 
matter ;  all  the  Colonies  are  interested  in  it.  We  have 
passed  our  resolutions  to-day  in  the  language  of  Phila 
delphia.  Our  friends  in  South  Carolina  and  Virginia 
are  at  one  also.  We  must  stand  fully  abreast  with 
them.  We  cannot  afford  it  to  be  said  that  personal 
friendship,  or  desire  for  patronage,  or  any  other  con 
sideration,  prevents  our  doing  our  duty  as  citizens. 
At  most  of  our  gatherings  tradesmen  have  not  been 
present  in  large  numbers,  but  on  this  holiday  we  have 
an  unusual  representation  of  them.  The  shops  are 
closed  to-day,  and  merchants  have  come  hither,  know 
ing  this  to  be  a  regular  town  meeting,  and  therefore 
they  may  act  themselves  in  this  matter.  I  have  writ 
ten,  and  present  for  your  adoption,  the  following  pre 
amble  and  resolution  :  — 

"  Whereas,  the  merchants  of  this  Continent  did  enter  into  an 
agreement  to  withhold  the  importation  of  teas  until  the  duty 
laid  thereon  should  be  repealed,  which  agreement,  as  we  are 
informed,  has  been  punctually  observed  by  the  respectable 
merchants  in  the  Southern  Colonies,  while,  by  reason  of  the 
peculiar  circumstances  attending  the  trade  of  this  place,  some 
quantities,  tho'  very  small  in  proportion  to  what  had  been 
o 


194        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

usual  before  said  agreement,  have  been  imported  by  some  of 
the  merchants  here.  And,  whereas,  it  now  appears  probable 
to  this  Town  that  the  British  administration  have  taken  en 
couragement,  even  from  such  small  importations,  to  grant 
licenses  to  the  East  India  Company,  as  aforesaid,  therefore, — 
"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  determination  of  this  Town,  by 
all  means  in  their  power,  to  prevent  the  sale  of  teas  exported 
by  the  East  India  Company,  and  as  the  merchants  here  have 
generally  opposed  this  measure,  it  is  the  just  expectation  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Town  that  no  one  of  them  will,  upon 
any  pretext  whatever,  import  any  tea  that  shall  be  liable  to 
pay  the  duty  from  this  time,  and  until  the  Act  imposing  the 
same  shall  be  repealed." 

"Those  in  favor  of  the  Resolution  will  say,  Aye," 
said  Hancock. 

The  motion  was  passed,  though  without  quite  the 
heartiness  which  had  accompanied  the  previous  actions 
of  the  body.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  until  three 
o'clock,  and  the  boys  followed  the  crowd  out  into  the 
open  air. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

A    LIBERTY    RIOT 

"  PUT  on  your  things,  Mrs.  Goodrich,  and  you,  Pru 
dence,  run  upstairs  and  dress  in  your  best,  and  let  us 
go  out  for  a  call,"  said  Mr.  Goodrich,  one  evening. 

"  A  rather  sudden  proposition  !  You  should  have  given 
us  warning,  father,"  said  Mrs.  Goodrich.  "  Where  are 
you  going  ? " 

"  To  the  Clarkes.  Young  Jonathan  Clarke  is  just 
returned  from  London,  and  a  few  of  the  friends  will 
be  gathered  there  to  meet  him  and  hear  of  his  jour 
ney,  and  wish  him  joy  of  his  safe  return.  Come, 
Prudence ;  be  you  ready  in  a  jiffy." 

"You  men  give  very  little  thought  to  the  necessity 
of  preparation  on  the  part  of  a  woman,"  said  Mi£. 
Goodrich. 

"  Ah,  well,  and  why  should  you  need  preparation  ? 
You  look  well  enough  without  your  wimples  and  crisp- 
ing-pins  and  patches  and  powdered  hair,  your  high- 


196         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

heeled  shoes  and  other  nonsense.  But  look  your  best ; 
I  will  wait  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  over  we  go." 

A  woman's  toilet  was  a  thing  that  required  no  little 
preparation  in  those  days,  and  not  a  few  women  would 
have  been  dismayed  at  the  necessity  of  preparing  for 
a  call  on  such  short  notice ;  but  the  Goodriches  were 
accustomed  to  somewhat  sudden  demands  on  the  part 
of  Mr.  Goodrich,  and  as  for  Prudence,  she  was  ready 
to  accept  an  invitation  at  almost  any  moment. 

"The  Clarkes  are  a  very  respectable  family,"  said 
Mrs.  Goodrich,  as  they  passed  down  Ann  Street 
together. 

"  Aye,  none  better  in  the  town ;  old  and  well  con 
nected;  family  prosperous,  too,  though  I  have  little 
use  for  the  alliance  they  have  contracted  —  think  of 
old  Richard  Clarke  marrying  his  daughter  to  that 
man  —  what  is  his  name?" 

"  Copley." 

"  Copley,  yes !  And  who  is  Copley  ?  A  painter ; 
and  not  even  a  painter  of  barns  and  ships  and  other 
things  useful,  but  a  painter  .of  pictures,  and  likely  to 
be  a  poor  beggar,  I  warrant,  if  Clarke  does  not  feed 
him.  He  might  far  better  have  married  his  daugh 
ter  to  a  merchant,  or  a  well-to-do  man  in  some  station." 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  197 

"Perhaps  the  father  had  not  much  to  do  about  it," 
suggested  Prudence,  playfully;  "girls  have  ways  of 
taking  things  of  that  sort  in  their  own  hands." 

"Yes,  and  they  make  a  mess  of  it  when  they  do." 

"  But,  father,  a  girl  should  marry  the  man  she 
loves." 

"  Love !  What  does  a  girl  know  about  love  ?  A 
girl  should  marry  where  she  may  have  a  good  home 
and  a  proper  station  in  life,  and  be  connected  with  a 
family  of  some  distinction  and  weight." 

"I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,"  said  Prudence. 

"  Of  course  all  these  things  are  desirable,"  said 
Mrs.  Goodrich,  "but  still  you  don't  think  those  are 
the  only  considerations,  do  you,  husband  ? " 

"The  only  ones  worth  talking  about,"  said  he. 
"When  my  daughter  comes  to  think  of  marrying, 
we  will  have  no  foolish  talk  of  love  and  poetry  and 
birds  and  flowers,  and  all  such  trash.  She  shall 
marry  a  man  of  proper  station,  a  man  with  a  suitable 
income,  a  man  of  family  and  social  distinction.  Were 
she  two  years  older,  or  Clarke's  son  a  little  younger, 
I  should  think  an  alliance  with  the  house  of  Clarke 
a  very  proper  match." 

"  Oh,  father,"  said    Mrs.    Goodrich,    "  don't   be   put- 


198         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

ting  such  ideas  into  Prudence's  head.  She  is  only 
a  child  yet." 

"Oh,  well,  she  is  sixteen,  and  girls  think  much  of 
such  things  when  they  are  sixteen." 

"  I  don't  think  they  do,  very  much,"  said  Prudence. 
"Of  course  we  like  a  good  time,  and  we  think  some 
times  of  what  there  may  be  in  store  for  us,  but  I  am 
quite  content  to  be  at  home  with  mother  and  you, 
and  be  at  my  books  awhile  longer." 

"That  is  all  very  well,  and  we  are  in  no  hurry  to 
get  you  off  our  hands ;  but  when  the  time  comes, 
mind  you,  we  will  have  no  nonsense." 

"  If  you  are  in  any  hurry,  father,"  said  Prudence, 
playfully,  "I  am  sorry,  for  I  do  not  see  that  I  can 
help  you.  It  will  not  be  leap  year  for  three  years, 
and  I  am  helpless  till  then." 

"  I  have  not  said  that  I  wanted  to  be  rid  of  you," 
replied  her  father.  "  Our  home  would  be  a  very 
lonely  one  without  our  saucy  Prue;  but  I  am  only 
thinking  about  the  future,  as  a  father  should ;  and 
I  think,  not  so  much  of  the  man,  as  of  the  family. 
As  for  the  man,  you  can't  tell  what  is  in  him,  or 
what  he  will  do ;  but  as  for  the  family,  you  know 
something,  and  so  far  you  are  safe.  Now  there  is 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT 

the  Morris  family.  Fine  old  family  !  Eliphalet  Morris 
was  a  leather  dealer  on  Fleet  Street  when  my  father 
was  a  lad ;  then  came  his  son  Hezekiah,  who  fol 
lowed  his  father's  calling.  He  married  late  in  life, 
and  has  one  son,  a  rather  likely  fellow,  too,  he  seemed 
to  be.  I  liked  the  way  he  acted  at  your  little  party 
the  other  night.  A  very  likely  lad,  and  he  will  inherit, 
one  day,  his  father's  business,  as  like  as  not,  and 
Boston  has  a  great  future  in  the  leather  business." 

"  He  smells  of  leather,"  said  Prue. 

"  The  smell  of  leather  is  not  bad,"  said  her  father, 
"  and  there  is  money  in  it.  People  may  drink  tea,  or 
not  drink  it;  they  may  buy  silk  or  dress  in  wool  or 
cotton ;  they  may  buy  books  or  go  without  reading,  but 
shoes  they  must  have." 

"The  shoes  are  well  enough,"  answered  Prudence, 
"but  I  want  but  one  pair  at  present,  and  not  another 
pair  with  a  man  in  them." 

"  You  will  get  over  that  idea  one  of  these  fine  days ; 
eh,  mother?" 

Mr.  Goodrich  was  disposed  to  be  facetious  this  even 
ing,  but  even  in  his  jokes  there  was  a  suggestion  of  his 
overbearing  disposition. 

"  I  think  it  quite  well  enough  to  wait  until  Prudence 


2OO         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

is  a  little  older,  and  let  her  get  over  her  present  feeling, 
as  you  say,  by  a  natural  growth  into  womanhood  rather 
than  too  soon  putting  such  ideas  into  her  head,"  said 
Mrs.  Goodrich. 

"  Oh,  I  mean  no  harm ;  I  am  only  looking  out  for  the 
future,  as  a  prudent  father  should ;  for  all  the  prudence 
Prudence  has  is  in  her  name,  and  it  is  I  who  have  the 
grace,  or  there  is  none  at  all  in  our  family,"  said  Mr. 
Goodrich.  "  Young  Morris  will  be  at  the  little  gather 
ing  this  evening,  I  make  no  doubt,  with  his  father." 

"  He  might  better  stay  home  and  study  ;  he  belongs 
to  the  Latin  School,"  said  Prudence.  "  He  is  a  con 
ceited  young  prig,  and  I  love  him  little." 

"  And  now  you  talk  like  the  silly  girl  you  are,"  said 
her  father.  "  I  have  seen  but  little  of  the  lad,  though 
I  like  him  well  enough  what  I  have  seen  of  him,  but 
I  like  his  father  well  and  have  known  him  these  many 
years." 

"  I  will  never  love  a  man  for  his  father's  sake,"  said 
Prudence. 

"  I  am  not  asking  you  to  love  him,"  testily  cried  her 
father.  "  I  want  no  nonsense  about  it  at  all.  I  am 
telling  you  not  to  be  silly,  that  is  all.  If  he  is  civil  to 
you,  you  need  not  be  rude  to  him,  need  you  ? " 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  2OI 

"  Of  course  not." 

"  Well,  that  is  all  I  want." 

"  If  that  is  all  you  want,  that  is  enough,  and  I  will 
very  gladly  do  it,  but  I  had  an  idea  it  was  more  you 
wanted." 

"  Oh,  well,  I  am  only  saying,  don't  be  a  goose,  but 
a  sensible  girl,  that  is  all." 

"When  you  tell  me  to  be  sensible,  you  mean  that 
I  shall  go  out  hunting  for  some  young  man  with  money 
to  make  love  to  me,  do  you  ? " 

"  Ah,  Prudence,  Prudence,  you  vex  my  life  with  your 
stupidity.  Must  I  spell  everything  out  for  you  in 
words  of  one  syllable  ?  Can't  you  understand  that  I 
am  merely  looking  out  for  your  interests,  or  do  you 
want  to  go  and  fall  in  love  with  some  apprentice  or 
other,  some  rope-maker,  some  housewright  like  that 
young,  noisy  fellow  that  I  turned  out  of  my  house  the 
other  night?" 

Prudence  winced  a  little  at  this  reference  to  an  un 
pleasant  subject. 

"  I  would  rather  you  would  say  nothing  about  that," 
said  she ;  "I  don't  like  to  think  about  it." 

"  And  why  don't  you  like  to  think  about  it? " 

"  Because  —  because  —  " 


2O2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Well,  because  why  ?  " 

"  Because  I  don't  think  you  were  quite  polite  to  him, 
father !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  talking  so  to  me  ? " 

"  I  did  not  want  to  talk  so  to  you,  father,  but  you 
made  me." 

"  Come,  come,  husband,  this  won't  do ;  see,  we  are  at 
the  house.  Prudence,  my  dear,  brush  up  your  hair 
a  little  on  this  side !  There,  you  look  very  well.  Is 
my  bonnet  on  straight  ? " 

And  so  they  passed  through  the  gate  and  up  to  the 
house. 

The  elder  Clarke  met  them  at  the  door,  affable, 
dignified,  and  hospitable. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Goodrich !  Good  evening, 
madam !  And  this  is  your  daughter !  Ah,  well,  I 
should  have  known  her,  but  these  young  lads  and 
'wenches  grow  up  so  fast  these  days  one  can't  keep 
them  all  in  mind.  A  fine  girl  you  have  there,  Good 
rich  ;  and,  having  a  handsome  woman  for  your  wife, 
your  daughter  is  better  looking  than  one  would  think 
who  only  knew  her  father !  Pass  in,  Mrs.  Goodrich, 
and  lay  by  your  things.  You  will  meet  the  ladies 
within.  Yes,  yes,  a  happy  occasion  most  truly.  My 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  2O3 

son  has  been  crossing  the  ocean.  It  is  a  weary  journey 
and  an  uncertain  one." 

"We  rejoice  with  you  in  his  return." 

"We  are  thankful  indeed  to  have  him  back  again, 
and  glad  of  the  news  he  brings  us  from  the  other  side." 

"  What  news  ?  " 

"  The  Ministry,  it  seems,  is  done  with  the  trifling 
policy  it  has  employed  hitherto.  I  contend,  and  have 
contended  all  the  while,  that  if  the  Government  would 
but  once  set  on  a  policy  and  firmly  adhere  to  it,  what 
ever  that  policy  might  be,  it  would  be  the  better  in  the 
end  for  America." 

"You  are  right.     The  Ministry  needs  firmness." 

"  It  is  because  they  have  sometimes  vacillated,  fright 
ened  too  easily  by  mere  makers  of  noise,  that  we  have 
no  policy,  and  at  each  suggestion  of  a  forward  move 
ment  in  politics  or  commerce,  up  jumps  the  mob,  and, 
lo,  the  Ministry,  terrified,  stops  to  reconsider  its  past 
action,  and  suddenly  we  find  ourselves  again  helpless 
and  drifting.  My  son  brings  the  word  that  the  Min 
istry  has  had  enough  of  this,  and  that  they  say  His 
Majesty  himself  leads  in  demanding  that  some  vigorous 
move  shall  be  made  in  favor  of  a  definite  programme 
for  America." 


2O4         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"Tea  is  to  come  to  us,  and  we  will  have  no  more 
nonsense  about  drinking  or  not  drinking,  selling  or 
not  selling.  Aye,  tea  will  come,  and  those  who  want 
it  not,  need  not  buy  it,  and  those  who  want  it  may 
have  it,  and  there  is  an  end  on't." 

"  I  have  ever  contended  that  this  is  the  true  course. 
I  said  so  in  public  recently." 

"  I  hear  you  made  a  speech  the  other  day  at  Fan- 
euil  Hall  ?  Aye,  and  a  good  one  they  say  it  was ! 
But  what  a  pity  that  a  mob  such  as  held  the  Hall 
should  disgrace  the  Hall,  and  then  call  its  gathering 
a  Town  Meeting  !  But  I  think  we  have  come  to  the 
end  of  that  sort  of  business.  I  am  confident  the 
King  has  had  enough  of  it." 

"  You  have  a  full  house  this  evening.  And  here 
come  others." 

"  Come  in !  come  in !  This  is  my  son,  Jonathan. 
Jonathan,  you  know  Mr.  Goodrich,  who  comes  to 
greet  you  and  brings  his  wife  and  daughter  to  take 
your  hand.  These  other  friends  you  know,  —  Mr.  Mor 
ris  and  his  wife  and  their  son.  My  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Copley;  Mr.  Benjamin  Paneuil  you  know  well;  Mr. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Jr.,  the  Governor's  son  ;  and  his 
brother  also,  —  ah,  yes,  you  know  them  all ;  there  is 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  2O5 

no  use  of  introductions  in  a  company  where  you  are 
so  much  at  home.  Come  in,  and  let  us  join  the  ladies. 
Ladies,  I  greet  you  all,  and  wish  you  joy  this  evening  !  " 

Mrs.  Clarke  was  seated  at  a  little  table,  preparing 
the  tea.  She  tapped  a  bell,  and  a  servant  brought  in 
a  teapot  and  the  steaming  kettle  of  hot  water. 

"  Come  hither,  Prudence,"  she  said ;  "  I  must  press 
you  into  service,  —  and  you,  too,  Job  !  Come,  you 
shall  pass  the  sugar  and  the  cream." 

Prudence  colored  and  hesitated. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  she  said,  "but  I  would  rather 
not !  " 

"  Prudence !  why,  Prudence  !  "  said  her  mother. 

"  Prudence  !  "  said  her  father,  "  beware  !  " 

"  Surely,  you  will  not  deny  me  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Clarke. 

"  I  would  deny  you  nothing,  Mrs.  Clarke,"  said  Pru 
dence,  "but  this  is  something  that  I  cannot  do.  I 
belong  to  the  Daughters  of  Liberty." 1 

1  The  young  women  of  Boston,  following  the  example  of  their  mothers, 
had  subscribed  to  the  following  pledge  :  "  We  the  daughters  of  those 
Patriots  who  have  and  do  now  appear  for  the  public  interest,  and  in 
that  principle  regard  their  attitude  as  such,  do  with  pleasure  engage 
with  them  in  depriving  ourselves  the  drinking  of  foreign  tea  in  hopes  to 
frustrate  the  plans  that  tend  to  deprive  a  whole  country  of  all  that  is 
valuable  in  life." 


2O6  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  A  Daughter  of  Liberty  !  "  said  Job  Morris.  "  Ah, 
Miss  Prudence,  I  thought  you  had  more  sense  !  " 

"And  who,  sir,"  demanded  Prudence,  "gave  you  the 
right  to  pass  judgment  upon  my  sense  or  lack  of  it  ? " 

"  Oh,  no  one,  for  that  matter ;  but  a  man  has  a  right 
to  an  opinion,  I  suppose  ! " 

"  Yes,  and  a  right  to  keep  it  to  himself  until  called 
for." 

"  Prudence  ! "  said  her  father,  in  a  hoarse  whisper, 
"  I  am  ashamed  of  you  !  " 

"  Prudence,  my  dear,"  said  her  mother,  coming  to 
her  side,  "  I  am  very,  very  sorry ;  you  are  causing  me 
great  pain,  my  daughter." 

"Oh,  never  mind,  never  mind,"  said  Mr.  Clarke; 
"  the  young  folk  seem  to  be  having  things  all  their 
own  way  just  now.  If  she  does  not  want  to  pass 
the  tea,  let  her  have  her  will.  Where  is  Mrs.  Cop 
ley  ?  Here,  my  daughter,  you  will  obey  your  father 
under  his  own  roof,  though  you  have  gone  out  from 
it.  Come  help  your  mother  in  the  passing  of  the 
tea." 

Mr.  Clarke  was  in  a  happy  mood  this  evening,  and 
little  in  mind  for  any  unpleasantness. 

"  The  way  these  young  people  assert  their  rights," 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  2O7 

said  he,  with  a  somewhat  unnatural  levity,  "  is  a  warn 
ing  to  us  old  people,  Mr.  Goodrich.  There  is  a  verse 
in  the  Bible  somewhere  that  says,  '  Woe  unto  the  land 
when  thy  king  is  a  child  !  '  We  are  coming  very  near 
that  time,  it  seems  to  me.  These  fellows  that  are 
making  this  disturbance  about  the  tea  are  young  fel 
lows,  almost  every  one  of  them.  To  my  certain  knowl 
edge,  some  of  the  ringleaders  in  this  movement  are 
beardless  boys." 

"There  are  Adams,  Hancock,  Molineux,  and 
Warren,"  said  Faneuil. 

"Yes,  I  know,  but  none  of  them  are  old,  and  their 
followers  are  apprentices,  and  boys  like  Job  here  in  the 
Latin  School.  Young  fellows  of  that  sort !  Why, 
would  you  believe  it,  the  very  ones  who  brought  about 
the  letters  summoning  us  to  meet  at  the  Liberty  Tree 
to  resign  were  lads  not  older  than  Job  !  How  do  I 
know  ?  How,  indeed !  I  caught  one  of  them. 
Caught  him  ?  Yes,  and  had  him  here  in  the  house 
a  prisoner." 

"What  did  you  do  with  him?"    asked  Hutchinson. 

"  I  shut  him  up  and  set  the  servants  to  guard  him, 
one  inside  the  room  and  one  out,  and  took  away  the 
ladder  and  had  the  window  fastened.  I  thought  he 


2O8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

was  in  as  tight  a  box  as  ever  a  prisoner  need  be  in, 
but  in  the  morning  he  was  gone." 

"  Gone  ? " 

"Yes,  and  in  a  way  that  showed  a  wise  head  as 
well  as  nimble  legs.  While  the  servants  slept,  —  lazy 
fellows  that  they  were,  fooled  to  sleep  by  his  pretence, 
—  he  clambered  into  the  attic.  I  was  alone  in  the 
house  that  night,  my  other  son  being  absent,  and  I 
had  to  trust  him  to  the  servants.  I  was  angry  enough 
at  being  called  out  of  bed  to  have  watched  with  him 
myself,  aye,  and  to  have  flogged  him  too ;  but  I 
turned  him  over  to  them,  and  they  let  him  go.  The 
dolts,  though  I  make  little  doubt  he  would  have 
gotten  away  somehow  had  they  stayed  awake.  Would 
you  believe  it,  he  made  his  way  down  from  the  very 
top  of  the  house !  " 

"How  did  he  do  it?" 

"With  some  bits  of  straps  he  found  in  the  attic. 
He  let  himself  out  of  the  north  gable,  where  his 
companion  raised  a  short  ladder.  When  the  servants 
saw  them  escaping,  they  declared  the  other  one  not 
a  bit  taller;  indeed,  they  did  not  think  him  so  tall  as 
the  one  we  had  held  a  prisoner." 

"Two  shrewd  lads  they  must  have  been,"  said 
Faneuil. 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  2CK) 

"  Shrewd  ?  aye.  I  laughed  at  the  escapade  myself, 
when  I  had  time  to  think  it  over,  though  I  was 
angry  enough  at  the  time,  —  aye,  and  am  angry  still 
if  I  catch  sight  of  the  young  villain ;  for,  much  as  I 
admire  his  shrewdness,  I  count  him  the  more  danger 
ous  because  of  it." 

"You  would  know  him  if  you  saw  him?" 

"  Know  him  ?  Yes,  right  well.  I  had  a  full  look 
in  his  face  with  the  candle  while  I  questioned  him 
as  to  his  name." 

"  What  was  his  name  ? "    asked  Mr.  Goodrich. 

"He  would  not  tell." 

"  Could  you  not  force  it  from  him  ? " 

"  No  ;  nor  anything  else." 

"  What  kind  of  looking  fellow  was  he  ?  "    asked  Job. 

"  A  rather  tall  young  fellow,  sixteen  or  seventeen, 
maybe,  with  gray  eyes  and  brownish  hair,  a  rather 
handsome-looking  fellow  —  an  apprentice,  I  took  it." 

Prudence  flushed  deeper  at  the  description,  but 
paled  at  Job's  next  word. 

"  I  know  his  name,  Mr.  Clarke,  I  know  his  name. 
I  know  both  of  them.  Their  names  are " 

Just   at   this   moment   a   loud    yell    rose    from    the 
yard,  and  a  servant  came  rushing  in. 
p 


2IO        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Massa  Cla'ke,  Massa  Cla'ke,"  he  said,  "there  is 
gwine  t'  be  trouble  heah  right  straight  off.  De  whole 
ya'd  is  full  of  men,  and  they  want  t'  see  you  and 
Massa  Jonathan  and  the  gen'men  Hutchinson,  and 
Massa  Ben  Funnell !  " 

"  What,  what !  "  said  Clarke ;  "  may  we  not  be  free 
one  minute  from  this  incessant  mob !  Ah,  Goodrich, 
and  I  was  joking  about  this  just  a  minute  ago,  treat 
ing  it  as  a  light  thing.  It  is  no  joke  to  me,  I  can 
tell  you.  It  has  gone  too  far  !  Let  me  get  hold  of 
one  of  the  rascals,  and  especially  one  of  those  who 
came  here  before,  and  I  will  wring  his  neck  like 
a  chicken.  Hello  there,"  he  called  through  the 
door,  "  what  do  you  want  ?  what  are  you  doing 
here  ? " 

"We  want  to  know  about  the  tea,"  demanded  the 
crowd. 

"  Well,  and  what  about  it  ? " 

"We  want  the  tea  factors  to  promise  to  ship  back 
the  tea  to  England  without  Unloading." 

"  Begone,  and  mind  your-own  business,"  called  one 
of  the  Hutchinsons  ;  "  what  business  have  you  idlers 
to  be  here  ?  Begone  !  return  to  your  homes  !  " 

At  this  moment  a   stone  was   thrown  which   struck 


MASSACLA'KE!    MASSA  CLA'KEI" 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT  211 

against  the  door ;  then  came  another,  breaking  a  pane 
of  glass. 

"  Close  the  door  and  bar  it  quickly !  Bar  the  win 
dows,  too.  Goodrich,  you  have  been  sick ;  you  are 
in  no  condition  to  bear  this.  Get  the  women  out  of 
this.  Hurry  them  out  at  the  back  door.  No,  no ;  the 
back  yard  is  full  of  them.  Up  the  stairs,  quickly,  up 
to  the  attic ;  for  they  will  be  casting  stones  through 
the  windows  on  the  next  floor !  To  the  attic,  quick !  " 

The  women  were  hurried  upstairs,  and  none  too 
soon.  Volleys  of  missiles  were  hurled  against  the 
house.  Every  unprotected  pane  of  glass  was  broken. 
Heavy  stones  came  through  and  struck  against  the 
imported  wall-paper  and  scratched  the  Chippendale 
furniture. 

"Arms!  arms!  Bring  us  our  weapons !"  called  the 
younger  Clarke. 

"  Be  careful  how  you  use  them,"  said  Hutchinson. 
"  Nay,  nay,  be  not  too  hasty ;  do  not  fire  until  it  is 
necessary." 

Unmindful  of  this  warning,  however,  some  one  fired 
a  pistol  out  of  an  upper  window  into  the  crowd 
below.  There  was  a  momentary  lull,  and  then  the 
noise  redoubled.  Horns  were  blowing,  men  were 


212  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

shouting,  recruits  were  arriving  from  all  over  town. 
Stones  were  beating  in  at  the  open  windows  and 
pounding  heavily  against  the  side  of  the  house.  The 
crowd  seemed  determined  to  raze  it  to  the  founda 
tions.  The  besiegers  had  lost  all  reason  and  con 
science,  and  the  men  within  had  lost  power  either  to 
alarm  or  reassure  them. 

"  Peace,  peace ! "  cried  an  authoritative  voice  from 
School  Street. 

"  Aye,  peace !  Who  calls  peace  when  there  is  no 
peace  ? "  answered  some  one  in  the  crowd. 

"They  would  murder  us!"  cried  another. 

"They  have  shot  at  us.  They  would  kill  us  as 
they  did  in  King  Street!" 

"  Remember  the  fifth  of  March  !  " 

"Silence!" 

"  It  is  Sam  Adams,"  said  some  one ;  "  and  John 
Hancock  is  with  him  !  " 

"  Stay  !  Stay  !  "  cried  Hancock.  "  Do  you  forget 
what  you  were  doing  ? " 

"They  would  murder  us," -cried  some  one. 

"My  countrymen,"  said  Adams,  "this  must  not  be. 
Let  not  unlawful  deeds  stir  you  to  lawlessness  like 
this.  Let  us  carry  our  ends  by  lawful  means,  if  we 


A    LIBERTY    RIOT 

may.  You  will  make  us  all  trouble  and  defeat  the 
very  ends  which  you  seek  to  promote.  Disperse  and 
go  quietly  to  your  homes !  " 

The  crowd  slowly  and  reluctantly  began  to  scatter. 

The  inmates  of  the  house  went  again  to  the  windows. 

"  Look,"  said  Clarke,  "  there  is  the  boy  !  " 

"What?  where?" 

"  That  apprentice  boy  yonder,  and  there  is  the  other 
beside  him  with  the  lantern !  " 

"  I  know  them  well,"  said  Job  ;  "  they  are  the  very 
ones.  John  Farwell  is  the  tall  one,  and  the  other  is 
Tom  Lawson." 

"  I  will  remember  the  names,"  said  Mr.  Clarke. 
"  I  will  make  them  trouble  yet !  My  son,  go  up  the 
ladder  to  the  attic  and  tell  the  ladies  they  may  now 
come  down,  but  I  fear  we  must  send  you  to  your 
own  homes ;  we  have  no  place  where  we  can  receive 
you  now !  See  how  the  miscreants  have  broken 
things ;  there  is  hardly  a  whole  pane  of  glass  in  the 
house,  and  the  glassware  and  the  china  and  the  fur 
niture  are  well-nigh  ruined.  And  this  is  what  they 
call  liberty !  Aye,  the  rascals !  I  would  like  to  have 
liberty  to  hang  every  tenth  man  of  them,  and  some 
one  to  flog  the  other  nine  at  the  whipping-post. 


214        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

But  go,  Jonathan,  and  bring  down  the  ladies,  and 
mind,  they  don't  fall  getting  down  the  ladder." 

The  ladies  very  willingly  descended  from  the  attic, 
but  as  they  were  turning  to  leave,  Prudence  asked : 

"Was  it  from  this  window  that  the  boy  climbed 
down?" 


CHAPTER  XVII 

BEHIND    THE   OLD    SOUTH   MEETING-HOUSE 

IT  was  a  Thursday  afternoon.  The  raw  November 
wind  blew  fresh  from  the  east,  but  the  sun  shone 
pleasantly.  A  group  of  four  boys,  two  of  them 
apprentices  and  the  others  lads  from  the  Latin  School, 
gathered  in  the  rear  of  the  Old  South  Meeting-house, 
sheltered  from  the  wind  by  an  adjacent  shed,  .and 
warmed  by  the  fast-descending  sun. 

"  It  is  near  time  for  the  lecture  to  begin,"  said  John 
Farwell.  "  Shall  we  go  within  ?  " 

"You  may,  if  you  like,"  Will  Sewall  replied,  "but 
I  shall  not  go  within  to-day." 

"Who  is  to  give  the  lecture,  Mr.  Hunt  or  Mr. 
Bacon  ? " 

"  Mr.  Bacon,  and  I  care  not  to  hear  him." 

"  Nor  I ;  I  like  not  a  Tory,"  said  John. 

The  Thursday  lecture  was  really  a  sermon,  and  had 
been  for  many  years  a  regular  institution  in  Boston. 

215 


2l6         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

For  it  the  Latin  School  adjourned,  and  many  busi 
ness  establishments  closed.  But  not  all  the  boys  thus 
released  chose  to  attend.  Political  questions  were 
agitating  the  public  mind,  and  there  was  much  for 
the  boys  to  talk  about  when  they  came  together. 

The  Old  South  at  this  time  had  two  young  pastors, 
only  recently  settled.  Their  joint  call  had  been  a 
compromise  between  the  more  liberal  element  and  the 
lovers  of  the  conservative  doctrine,  who  had  grown 
somewhat  suspicious  of  the  views  taught  at  Cambridge. 
It  proved  a  short  and  not  altogether  happy  pastorate. 
Mr.  Hunt,  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  proved  a  conserva 
tive  in  doctrine,  but  more  liberal  in  politics ;  and  Mr. 
Bacon,  who  came  from  Princeton,  proved  lax  in  his 
doctrinal  views,  as  the  Old  South  then  counted  lax- 
ness,  and  was  suspected  of  being  a  Tory.  Moreover, 
the  man  who  was  mild  in  his  theology  was  stern  and 
controversial  in  his  manner ;  and  the  man  whose  views 
of  doctrine  were  hardest  was  sympathetic  and  persua 
sive.  So  there  were  few  among  the  more  patriotic 
lads  who  cared  to  hear  Mr.  Bacon.  There  were  many, 
however,  who  declared  that  Mr.  Bacon  was  no  Tory, 
and  that  the  impression  had  grown  out  of  a  mistake 
that  he  had  made  early  in  his  pastorate,  in  reading  a 


BEHIND  THE  OLD  SOUTH  MEETING-HOUSE     2I/ 

proclamation  of  Governor  Hutchinson  as  soon  as  it 
was  received,  instead  of  holding  it  over  for  a  week. 
Governor  Hutchinson's  proclamations  were  not  treated 
with  any  more  respect  than  was  necessary  in  those 
days,  and  the  minister  who  gave  them  undue  promi 
nence  or  read  them  with  needless  promptness  laid 
himself  open  to  suspicion  at  once. 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  go  in,"  said  John.  "  My 
master,  Mr.  Crane,  dismisses  us  that  we  may  attend 
lecture." 

"I'll  not  be  lectured  by  a  Tory,  John." 

"  You  would  do  well  then  to  quit  the  Latin  School ; 
for,  beshrew  me,  if  there  be  a  worse  Tory  on  one  of  the 
three  hills  than  Gaffer  Lovell,"  retorted  Tom  Lawson. 

The  Latin  School  boys  made  no  reply,  for  their 
master's  irate  temper  and  his  sympathies  with  the 
Crown  were  well  known  to  them,  but  while  they 
admitted  his  failings  among  themselves  they  held 
him  in  respect,  and  were  loath  to  acknowledge  his 
faults  outside. 

"Be  that  as  it  may,"  said  Will  at  length,  "I'll 
have  no  Tory  with  my  religion." 

"  Here  comes  Job  Morris,"  he  continued.  "  He's 
no  friend  of  yours,  John,  I  take  it." 


2l8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Nor  of  Tom's,  if  the  Frog  Pond  were  to  tell  the 
secrets  at  its  bottom,"  said  John. 

Job  Morris  here  joined  the  group.  He  spoke  civ 
illy  to  the  Latin  School  boys,  but  glowered  angrily 
at  John  and  Tom.  His  coming  brought  a  moment 
of  silence,  and  then  Will  spoke. 

"They'll  send  no  tea  to  Boston,  I'll  lay  a  wager," 
said  he. 

"  Be  not  so  sure  of  that,"  replied  Tom.  "  The 
ships  are  on  the  way." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ? "  demanded  the  boys 
together. 

"The  Committee  of  Correspondence  have  sent  out 
a  letter  to  surrounding  towns,  warning  them  that  the 
ships  are  on  the  way." 

The  printer  lad  was  now  the  centre  of  interest. 

"  Tell  us  all  you  know,  Tom,"  they  cried.  "  If 
the  ships  are  coming,  let  us  know  the  worst." 

"  I  supposed  you  knew,"  said  Tom.  "  It's  no 
secret ;  the  town  will  know  to-morrow.  The  Commit 
tees  of  Correspondence  of  other  towns  were  gath 
ered  here  the  night  before  last,  and  agreed  upon  a 
letter  to  be  sent  out.  They  brought  it  to  us  yester 
day  at  Edes  &  Gill's.  We  printed  it  at  once.  They 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  2IQ 

would  hardly  wait  for  the  ink  to  dry;  and  last  night 
the  letter,  signed  by  William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk, 
was  sent  forth  to  all  the  towns  about." 

"  What  did  it  say  ?  " 

"  It  said  much.  Chiefly  what  I  tell  you,  that  the 
tea-ships  are  on  the  way." 

"  How  many  ? " 

"The  letter  did  not  say." 

"Have  you  the  letter?" 

"Not  I." 

"  I  wish  we  might  see  it." 

"There  hangs  a  proof  in  the  office." 

"Get  it,  Tom,  and  let  us  see  it." 

"I  fear  Mr.  Gill  would  not  like  it." 

"He  cares  not,  and  you  can  replace  it." 

Will  and  John  did  not  urge  him.  "  I  do  not  know, 
lads,"  Will  said,  "whether  he  ought  to  do  it." 

"  Who  will  know  ? "    asked  George  Cook. 

"  Hold  on,"  said  Tom,  "  I  like  not  your  bickering. 
If  'twere  a  secret,  wild  horses  should  not  draw  it 
from  me.  But  I  think  it  is  nothing  that  may  not 
be  known.  Let  me  go  to  the  office.  Mr.  Edes,  I 
think,  is  still  there.  I  will  ask  him  if  I  may  take  it. 
If  he  says  no,  mind  you,  I'll  not  touch  it." 


22O         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Much  conscience  you  have  for  a  printer's  devil," 
cried  Job. 

"Be  still  there!"  said  John.     "The  service  begins." 

Within  they  could  hear  the  singing  as  the  service 
opened. 

"  Haste,  Tom,  and  fetch  yon  paper  if  you  may," 
said  Will,  "for  we  want  to  see  it;  but  betray  no 
secrets,  for  we  can  wait  if  need  be." 

"Trust  me  for  that,"  said  Tom. 

"We'll  await  you  here,"  John  concluded. 

Tom  ran  through  Spring  Lane  and  Williams 
Court,  past  the  Bell-in-hand,  and  across  Court  Street 
to  the  little  alley,  now  known  as  Franklin  Avenue 
but  once  called  Dorsett's  Alley,  and  again  regarded 
as  part  of  Brattle  Street.  There  stood  the  printing- 
office  which  was  even  then  historic.  As  early  as 
1718  it  had  been  a  print-shop.  Here,  a  few  years 
later,  Benjamin  Franklin  worked  in  the  office  of  his 
brother,  setting  his  types  by  day,  writing  his  first 
contributions  for  the  paper  by  night,  and  slipping 
them  under  the  office  door  to  conceal  their  author 
ship  from  his  brother.  There  now  stood  the  office 
of  Edes  &  Gill,  both  stanch  patriots,  who  printed 
the  Gazette.  Through  this  paper  Adams,  Warren, 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  221 

Otis,  and  Quincy  proclaimed  their  views,  and  from 
this  shop  were  sent  forth  the  broadsides  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Correspondence. 

Tom  was  not  gone  long.  Soon  the  boys  waiting 
behind  the  meeting-house  saw  him  running  across 
from  Spring  Lane. 

"  He  does  not  have  it,"  said  John. 

"Nay,  he  has  it,  for  he  comes  running,"  said  Will. 

"  Did  you  fetch  it  ? "  the  boys  asked  in  a  breath. 

"  I  did,  indeed,"  said  Tom. 

"How  did  you  get  it?"  asked  George. 

"  I  found  Mr.  Gill  there,  who  asked  me  what  I 
sought,  and  why  I  was  not  at  lecture.  I  told  him 
what  I  wanted,  and  he  said  it  was  no  secret,  and  I 
might  take  the  proof.  He  said,  moreover,  that  lads 
should  know  what  gave  their  fathers  so  great  concern, 
for  it  was  for  the  sake  of  coming  generations,  and 
not  their  own  alone,  that  men  were  opposing  the 
coming  of  the  tea." 

"  So  he  gave  it  you  ? " 

"Yes,  but  charged  me  to  be  sure  and  bring  it 
back,  and  you  to  make  no  noise  behind  the  meeting 
house." 

"  Hold  your  tongues,  lads,  and  let  us  read  it ! " 


222  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

So  Tom  produced  the  long  sheet,  the  others  peer 
ing  over  his  shoulder,  and  began  to  read :  — 

" '  The  present  posture  of  affairs  engages  the  at 
tention  of  all  the  friends  of  the  happy  constitution 
which  our  fathers  framed,  and  for  many  years  sup 
ported  with  such  wisdom  and  fortitude  as  rendered 
them  the  admiration  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived, 
and  must  make  their  memory  glorious  in  all  future 
time.'  " 

"That  reads  well,"  said  Will,  "and  true  it  is.  I 
have  read  of  the  brave  deeds  of  the  fathers  of  this 
Colony  in  the  Governor's  history." 

"  Would  it  had  been  written  by  a  worthier  man," 
said  George. 

"  Nay,  but  Governor  Hutchinson  loves  our  Colony, 
and  its  history  is  dear  to  him.  My  father  says  that 
his  book  will  cause  all  future  generations  to  glow 
with  pride  in  the  achievements  of  their  sires,"  replied 
Job. 

"Yet  he  is  a  Tory." 

"  And  what's  a  Tory  but  one  who  is  not  a  traitor  ? 
Governor  Hutchinson  is  no  enemy  to  America.  Were 
not  his  ancestors  loyal  to  the  Colonies  ? " 

"Aye,   and   troublesome   they   were,    too.     Did   not 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  223 

one  of  them,  and  she  a  shrew,  bewitch  the  Colony 
in  the  days  of  Governor  Winthrop  and  Sir  Harry 
Vane  ? " 

"  Aye,  did  she.  She  lived  but  across  the  street, 
and  Governor  Winthrop  on  this  lot,  and  they  drew 
water  from  the  same  spring." 

"  They  banished  her,  did  they  not  ? " 

"They  did.     I  would  they  would  banish  him." 

"  Banish  your  talk,  lads,  and  let  us  hear  that  paper. 
Here,  give  it  me.  I'll  read  it." 

Will  took  the  paper  and  read  on  :  — 

" '  Our  rights  have  been  invaded  for  several  years 
by  cruel  and  remorseless  enemies ;  sometimes  they 
have  acted  with  open  violence,  at  other  times  they 
have  endeavored  by  wicked  artifice  to  undermine  our 
constitution.' " 

"Aye,"  interrupted  John.  "Our  liberties  are  in 
peril  now  as  they  were  when  Andros  took  away  our 
charter." 

Will  proceeded :  " '  Our  fears  are  now  excited  by  the 
expectation  of  the  immediate  arrival  of  the  tea  — ' ' 

The  word  was"  in  italics,  and  Will  read  it  with  em 
phasis  and  stopped.  At  the  word  which  they  had 
been  expecting  they  all  grew  silent. 


224         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

" '  Immediate  arrival  of  the  tea  shipped  for  the 
port  of  Boston,  on  account  of  the  East  India  Com 
pany,  the  landing  and  selling  of  which  must  be 
attended  with  consequences  the  most  fatal  to  our 
liberties.'  " 

"  Why  should  it  be  fatal  to  anything  ? "  asked  Job. 
"That's  what  I  don't  see.  What's  a  cup  o'  tea  more 
or  less,  anyhow  ?  If  they  were  trying  to  enslave 
us  or  take  our  lives  or  our  charter,  it  were  one  thing, 
but  I  can  never  see  why  it  is  that  the  drinking  of 
tea  should  raise  such  a  tempest  in  a  teapot." 

"  Because  it  is  the  one  article  on  which  the  tax 
is  still  demanded,"  said  John. 

"  But  the  tax  is  a  trifle.  Only  threepence  a  pound. 
Why  should  they  not  pay  it,  and  have  done  with  the 
trouble  ? " 

"  It's  not  the  threepence,  Job,"  said  Will.  "  I  have 
heard  that  the  East  India  Company  is  anxious  to 
have  the  trade  in  tea  resumed,  as,  in  spite  of  tax 
and  all,  it  is  cheaper  here  than  in  London,  and  the 
tax  is  paid  by  the  shipper,  besides." 

"  Then  what's  so  much  bother  about  it  for  ? " 

"  Because,  no  matter  who  pays  the  tax  first,  it 
comes  at  last  from  the  consumer,  and  the  people 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  225 

are  the  more  angry  at  the  reduction,  for  it  seems  to 
say  that  the  threepence  was  all  they  cared  for,  and 
that  now  the  price  is  made  so  low  they  will  buy  it." 

"And  they  will,"  said  Job. 

"  Nay,  they  will  not,  nor  sell  it  either,"  said  John. 
"Read  on." 

Job  looked  at  John  angrily,  but  said  no  more.  Will 
read  on,  the  letter  being  discussed  as  he  proceeded, 
to  the  end  of  the  official  communication.  Its  last 
words  were :  — 

" '  We  think,  therefore,  gentlemen,  that  we  are  in 
duty  bound  to  use  our  most  strenuous  endeavors  to 
ward  off  the  impending  evil,  and  we  are  sure  that 
upon  a  fair  and  cool  inquiry  into  the  nature  and 
tendency  of  this  ministerial  plan,  you  will  think  this 
tea  now  coming  to  us  more  to  be  dreaded  than 
plague  or  pestilence,  for  these  can  only  destroy  our 
mortal  bodies,  but  we  never  knew  a  country  enslaved 
without  the  destruction  of  their  virtue,  the  loss  of 
which  every  good  man  must  esteem  infinitely  greater 
than  the  loss  of  life.  And  we  earnestly  request  that, 
after  having  carefully  considered  this  important  mat 
ter,  you  would  impress  upon  the  minds  of  your 
friends,  neighbors,  and  fellow  townsmen,  the  necessity 
Q 


226  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

of  exerting  themselves  in  a  most  zealous  and  deter 
mined  manner  to  save  the  present  and  future  gen 
erations  from  temporal  and  (we  think  we  may  with 
seriousness  say)  eternal  destruction.'  " 

"  It  was  sent  out  signed  by  Mr.  Cooper,"  said  Tom. 

"  There's  more,  is  there  not  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  Yes ;  Mr.  Cooper  adds  a  postscript  nigh  as  long 
as  the  letter." 

In  the  postscript  the  Town  Clerk  gave  a  r/stimt  of 
the  circumstances  attending  the  sending  out  of  the 
letter,  arising  from  the  knowledge  lately  acquired 
by  the  Committee,  concerning  the  purpose  to  send 
the  tea  and  compel  its  landing ;  a  statement  of  the 
amount  which  the  tax  would  probably  take  in  coin 
from  the  Colony ;  and  the  common  interest  of  all 
the  towns  in  the  Province  in  the  matter.  He  ended 
thus : — 

"  Now,  brethren,  we  are  reduced  to  this  dilemma, 
either  to  sit  down  quiet  under  this  and  every  other 
burthen  that  our  enemies  shall  see  fit  to  lay  upon 
us,  as  good-natured  slaves,  or  rise  and  resist  this 
and  every  plan  laid  for  our  destruction,  as  becomes 
wise  freemen.  In  this  extremity  we  earnestly  request 
your  advice,  and  that  you  give  us  the  earliest  intelli- 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  227 

gence  of  the  sense  your  several  towns  have  of  the 
present  gloomy  situation  of  our  public  affairs." 

"That  rings  true!"  cried  John. 

"  It  sounds  like  treason,"  said  Job  Morris. 

"What  said  Patrick  Henry  concerning  the  Stamp 
Act  ? "  asked  John,  and  then  quoted,  " '  If  this  be 
treason,  make  the  most  of  it ! ' ' 

"Job  Morris,"  said  Tom,  "you  are  a  Tory." 

"  I  am  loyal  to  my  King  and  country." 

"America  is  my  country,"  continued  Will,  "and 
I  am  loyal  to  the  King,  till  he  prove  disloyal  to  us." 

"  Have  a  care  what  you  say,"  Job  retorted. 

"  If  you  like  it  not,  listen  not,  but  go  within  and 
hear  yon  Tory  parson  preach.  Or  stay,  go  where 
Mather  Byles  discourses  his  wit  and  politics  together." 

"  I'll  go  to  neither,  but  I'll  leave  this  company. 
I  like  not  yon  letter,  no  more  do  I  like  your  talk." 

"  Go  then,  and  good  riddance,"  said  Tom. 

"Give  me  no  sauce,  young  printer's  imp,  or  I'll 
blacken  your  eyes  till  they  match  your  inky  nose." 

"  Nay,  lads,  quarrel  not,"  said  Will.  "  If  Job  likes 
us  not,  let  him  leave.  We  can  spare  him.  But  save 
your  fists  for  the  lobsters." 

With   dark   looks    Job    withdrew,    and   for   a   while 


228  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

there  was  silence.  Soon  the  conversation  was  re 
sumed,  and  for  a  long  time  they  talked  in  low  tones 
about  the  coming  of  the  tea. 

"  The  men  in  the  long  room  above  the  office  say  it 
shall  never  land,"  Tom  informed  them. 

"Who  are  they?"  asked  Will. 

"  Adams,  Revere,  and  many  more.  They  meet  there 
at  times,  and  the  journeymen  of  the  office  often  gather 
there  apart." 

"  And  it  shall  not  land  !  "  exclaimed  John,  hotly. 

"  Nay,  it  shall  not,  but  what  will  you  do  ?  "  asked  Will. 

"  Pitch  it  into  the  harbor ! "  cried  Tom. 

"  I  wish  we  might.     But  how  can  we  get  to  it  ? " 

"  I  know  not.  But  lads,  whatever  the  men  devise, 
we'll  share,  will  we  not?  And  if  they  leave  it  to  us, 
we'll  e'en  think  out  a  way." 

"  That's  much  to  say,  Tom.  It  is  best  not  to  bluster. 
But  are  we  all  against  the  landing  of  the  tea  ?  " 

There  was  a  common  assent. 

"  And  shall  we  hold  together  till  we  see  it  through  ?  " 

All  four  assented. 

"  Let  us  pledge  to  stand  "by  one  another  until  this 
is  ended,  and  to  plan,  if  we  can,  a  way  to  prevent 
the  tea  coming  ashore." 


BEHIND    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE  22Q 

"  It  is  time  to  go  now,  lads.  They  have  risen  to 
sing,"  said  John. 

"  But  first,  let  me  read  again  this  sentence  from 
the  letter,"  and  Will  read  the  eloquent  sentence  con 
cerning  the  constitution  our  fathers  had  framed  and 
supported,  the  Charter  of  the  Colony,  which  concluded : 
" '  and  for  many  years  supported  with  such  wisdom  and 
fortitude  as  rendered  them  the  admiration  of  the  age 
in  which  they  lived,  and  must  make  their  memory 
glorious  in  all  future  time.'  " 

"Lads,"  said  he,  "there's  hard  times  ahead  for  the 
Town  and  the  Province.  But  to  that  work  which 
our  fathers  began,  and  for  which  many  of  them  laid 
down  their  lives,  let  us  pledge  ourselves,  whatever 
may  come,  our  unswerving  devotion." 

They  all  assented,  just  as  the  closing  stanza  of  the 
hymn  was  sung  within.  And  then  they  stopped  a 
moment;  for,  while  they  could  not  hear,  they  knew 
that  the  benediction  followed.  Together,  as  the  sun 
went  down,  the  four  boys  stood  with  bowed  and  un 
covered  heads  until  the  shuffling  of  feet  began  within. 
And  in  that  moment  of  silence  their  loyalty  was 
pledged  to  the  work  of  their  fathers,  and  a  country 
as  yet  unborn. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

A   NOISY   SABBATH 

"  IT  is  well  that  the  Sabbath  comes  now  and  again 
to  bring  rest  in  these  noisy  weeks,"  observed  Mrs. 
Crane  at  breakfast,  one  Sabbath  morning. 

"There  has  been  little  rest  between  Sabbaths,"  said 
Crane,  "  and  there  will  be  little  in  coming  weeks,  I 
fear." 

"  Did  you  hear  what  the  Council  did  yesterday  ?  " 
asked  John.  "They  were  in  session  all  day,  I 
hear." 

"Yes,  they  were  acting  on  Mr.  Clarke's  petition 
that  the  Town  take  possession  of  the  consignees  and 
the  tea,  and  assure  them  its  protection  both  in  person 
and  in  property." 

"  What  did  the  Governor  -say  about  it  ?  " 

"  He  wanted  the  Council  to  grant  the  petition." 

"Would  they  do  it?" 

"  They  would  not.  After  many  hours'  debate,  they 

230 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  231 

reminded  him  by  unanimous  vote  of  the  occasion  of 
this  disturbance,  told  him  that,  up  to  the  time  of  this 
trouble  about  the  tea,  Boston  had  been  free  from 
disturbances  of  this  sort,  and  the  real  occasion  now  of 
the  trouble  is  the  fear  of  the  people  that  their  rights 
are  to  be  imposed  upon  by  Parliament  and  the  East 
India  Company." 

"  How  did  they  get  round  the  point  of  protection  ?  " 

"  They  referred  that  to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
recommending  that  those  who  had  made  the  disturb 
ance  be  prosecuted,  and  suggested  that  there  would 
be  no  trouble  in  protecting  them  if  they  would  agree 
to  send  back  the  tea." 

"What  said  the  Governor  to  that?" 

"  He  asked  the  Council  if  it  did  not  mean  to 
reply  to  the  petition.  The  Council  made  answer  that 
it  considered  this  a  sufficient  reply." 

"But  what  about  the  tea?" 

"They  refused  all  responsibility  for  it,  disclaiming 
any  authority  to  take  property  into  their  charge  for 
any  citizen ;  and  said  that  if  they  did,  they  supposed 
that  would  make  them  personally  responsible  for  it, 
which  responsibility  they  declined  to  assume.  They 
said  further,  that,  inasmuch  as  the  landing  of  the 


232         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

tea  and  the  taking  of  it  into  possession  involved  the 
payment  of  duty,  they  were  unwilling  to  have  a 
share  in  it." 

"A  good  answer,"  said  John. 

"  Yes,  but  Clarke  did  not  count  it  so ! " 

"Nor  Mr.  Hutchinson  either,  I  warrant!" 

"  No,  indeed,  nor  any  of  the  Tories,  and  they  talk 
of  seeking  protection  from  the  troops  in  the  Castle." 

"Things  have  gone  far  when  the  Governor  must 
do  so." 

"  Aye,  and  things  will  go  farther,  if  need  be,  be 
fore  we  are  through  with  this  tea  business." 

"One  thing  is  certain,"  said  John:  "it  will  never 
come  to  land." 

"Aye,"  said  Crane,  "that  is  certain,  but  it  is  big 
talk  for  a  youngster." 

"The  youngsters  are  as  interested  as  their  elders," 
said  John. 

"  Maybe  they  are,  maybe  they  are,"  answered 
Crane.  "Ah,  well,  there  will  be  work  enough  for 
young  and  old,  before  we  are  through  with  this." 

It  was  in  this  way  that  Crane  talked  with  his 
apprentice  when  they  were  at  ease ;  but  when  Crane 
was  driven  with  his  work,  he  was  irritable,  unreason- 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  233 

ably  so  when  worried  by  public  affairs  and  the  late 
hours  which  he  kept  at  the  secret  meetings.  Al 
though  it  was  evident  that  John  was  growing  in  his 
esteem  and  that  he  daily  liked  him  better,  it  was 
also  apparent  that  he  cherished  a  measure  of  impa 
tience  against  him. 

John  knew  perfectly  that  he  had  not  forgotten 
the  escapade  of  his  first  night  and  his  later  all-night 
absence,  nor  was  Crane  an  easy  man  to  whom  to 
offer  an  explanation.  It  was  almost  impossible  to 
explain  to  him.  One  must  simply  live  with  him  and 
regain  his  confidence.  John  felt  that  he  was  regain 
ing  it,  though  he  smarted  every  night  when  he  saw 
Crane  carry  the  keys  away  to  his  own  room,  or,  hav 
ing  left  them  as  he  did  once  or  twice,  call  down  to 
Judy  to  fetch  them  to  him.  Three  or  four  times 
little  things  had  occurred  in  the  shop  which  had 
annoyed  him.  John  had  been  unskilful  in  some  of  the 
work  committed  to  him,  or  more  slow  than  Crane 
thought  he  ought  to  be ;  and  the  little  and  trivial 
matters  which  Crane  would  ordinarily  have  passed 
over  as  a  thing  to  be  expected  in  an  apprentice, 
would  cause  visible  displeasure.  He  never  had  the 
slightest  occasion  for  distrust  excepting  in  these  two 


234         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

instances.  John  knew  that,  in  a  certain  unreasoning 
way,  Crane  always  thought  of  the  keys  in  connection 
with  them.  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  took  them  on 
the  succeeding  nights  with  a  little  needless  display 
of  his  lack  of  confidence. 

There  were  times  when  John  almost  forgot  this : 
Crane  grew  so  interested  in  the  weekly  reading  of 
the  paper  and  so  dependent  on  John  in  connection 
with  it.  So  companionable  was  he  at  times,  when 
he  sat  with  John  at  the  fire  and  trotted  the  baby  on 
his  knee  or  talked  with  his  wife  while  John  busied 
himself  with  a  book  or  some  light  household  task 
after  supper,  and  laughed  so  heartily  and  slapped 
John  on  the  back  so  merrily,  that  but  for  the  keys 
John  could  have  forgotten  there  ever  having  occurred 
any  unpleasantness  between  him  and  his  master. 

And  Crane  would  have  forgotten  it  too,  had  there 
been  no  tangible  emblem  of  his  displeasure ;  the 
thing  that  brought  it  to  his  mind  again  every  night, 
and  thus  daily  carried  John  back  through  his  un 
pleasant  experience,  was  Crane's  nightly  solicitude 
for  the  keys. 

It  seemed  to  John  sometimes  that  he  would  rather 
have  held  those  keys  again  than  the  sceptre  of  King 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  235 

George.  The  real  authority  for  which  they  stood 
was  trivial,  indeed.  They  locked  up  no  treasures  of 
wealth,  but  they  represented  confidence.  No  one 
does  his  best  unless  he  knows  that  he  is  trusted. 

It  was  hard  for  John  to  keep  from  falling  back 
into  the  sullen  condition  of  his  first  weeks.  There 
were  times  when  he  bitterly  resented  Crane's  con 
duct  toward  him ;  but  as  Crane  made  no  accusations, 
and  withheld  nothing  that  John  had  any  right  to 
demand,  John  felt  himself  powerless  to  set  himself 
right,  save  as  time  might  give  him  opportunity. 

John  went  to  his  room  this  Sabbath  morning  and 
made  his  simple  preparations  for  the  meeting. 

"  Meeting  time  already  ?  "  he  said  in  surprise,  and 
just  then  Crane  flung  wide  the  door  and  demanded, 
"  John,  what  are  those  bells  ringing  for  ?  " 

"I  do  not  know,  sir,"  said  John,  "but  there  is  some 
trouble." 

"Aye,  and  I  half  mistrust  what  it  is.  Be  quick, 
lad ;  there  will  be  little  meeting  going  to-day,  I  fancy." 

John  struggled  into  his'  coat  and  hurried  down  the 
stairs,  and  he  and  Crane  started  together  up  Com 
mon  Street.  They  ran  fast  at  first,  until  Crane's 
breath  grew  short,  and  then  John,  though  eager  to 


236         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

pass  on,  slackened  his  own  pace  in  keeping  with 
Crane's ;  for  he  knew  that  Crane  would  rather  he 
would  stay  with  him. 

They  had  little  need  to  ask  which  way  to  go.  Up 
Common  Street  to  where  it  became  Tremont,  down 
School  Street  to  Marlborough,  pas^-the  old  State  House 
and  down  King,  they  followed  the  crowd  that  hurried 
to  Long  Wharf. 

"  It  is  a  man-of-war,"  said  one. 

"  Nay,  you  fool,  she  is  something  worse  than  that," 
said  another.  "  Think  you  a  ship  with  shotted  guns 
could  bring  such  dismay  to  Boston  as  yonder  vessel 
brings  ?  She  is  worse  than  a  warship,  man ;  she  is 
a  prison-ship,  and  she  has  our  liberties  bound  up  in 
her  infernal  tea-chests.  Would  to  Heaven  she  had 
sunk  in  mid-ocean !  " 

"Aye,"  said  another,  "and  would  to  Heaven  that 
every  pound  of  tea  within  her  were  steeped  in  molten 
brimstone  and  had  mingled  its  odor  with  flames  of 
the  bottomless  pit  before  she  had  ever  sailed  past 
Boston  Light." 

"  What  vessel  is  she  ?  " 

"  The  Dartmouth,  commanded  by  Captain  Hall." 

"  I  care  not  who  commands  her.     Who  owns  her? " 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  237 

"  Francis  Rotch,  the  Quaker !  " 

"The  Quaker!" 

"  Aye,  the  Quaker !  And  would  the  day  had  not 
yet  passed  when  they  strung  up  Quakers  on  the 
Common !  Quakers  have  ever  been  pestilential  in  this 
Commonwealth,  from  the  time  when  their  preacher 
woman  walked  naked  into  the  meeting-house  and 
Nicholas  Upsall  defied  the  town." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  " 

"Yonder  is  his  warehouse  on  King  Street,  but  he 
is  not  there,  I  warrant !  See,  she  has  dropped  anchor 
yonder  under  the  guns  of  the  Castle !  Will  her  cap 
tain  dare  come  to  land,  think  you?" 

At  this  moment  the  crowd  parted,  and  a  figure, 
dressed  in  drab  and  wearing  a  broad-brimmed  hat, 
made  its  way  down  the  wharf. 

"  There  he  is  now ;  that's  Rotch,  the  Quaker ! " 

"  Stone  him  !   stone  him  !  "  called  one. 

Nervous  and  visibly  anxious,  the  Quaker  made  his 
way  to  the  water-front.  He  was  a  well-built  young 
man  of  twenty-three,  and  his  drab  clothing  was  well 
fitted  and  of  good  material,  indicative  of  a  prosper 
ous  merchant.  He  looked  across  the  water  toward 
the  Castle,  assuring  himself  of  the  identity  of  the  ship. 


238         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  The  good  ship  has  come  safe  to  land,  thank  God  !  " 
said  Rotch,  turning  to  Crane,  who  stood  near  him. 

"  Thank  the  devil,  more  like,"  sarcastically  cried 
Crane. 

"What  does  thee  mean,  friend?"  asked  Rotch. 

"  I  mean  there  is  little  thanks  to  God,  and  more  to 
the  devil  for  anything  yon  ship  brings !  Would  she 
had  gone  down  at  sea ! " 

"Thee  art  ever  quick  at  speech,  friend  Crane,"  said 
Rotch ;  "  but  what  of  the  good  men  aboard  her,  and 
if  thee  cares  to  think  of  that,  what  of  my  money 
invested  in  her  ? " 

"  Thy  money  perish  with  thee ! "  replied  Crane. 
"And  as  for  the  men  on  board,  they  are  no  better 
than  the  men  on  land,  whose  liberties  the  King  is 
tramping  under  foot !  Aye,  and  you  useless  ship-own 
ers  and  merchants  are  helping  him  by  thrusting  your 
tea  upon  us  !  " 

"  But  I,  friend  Crane  —  I  am  not  to  blame.  The 
ship  is  for  the  carrying  of  goods,  whatever  there  be  to 
export,  and  I  have  naught  to  do  with  their  character." 

"Fiddlesticks!"  cried  Crane.  "Thus  Satan  de 
ceives  the  very  elect  when  he  teaches  them  to  lie  to 
themselves  so  skilfully  that  they  deceive  themselves." 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  239 

"What  said  he?"  shouted  some  one  back  of  them. 
"  Speak  louder  ;  we  want  to  hear  !  " 

"  He  says  nonsense  and  hypocrisy,"  said  Crane. 

"  It  would  serve  him  right  did  we  drop  him  over 
board,"  broke  in  some  one. 

"  Aye,  pitch  him  over  the  wharf ! "  cried  another. 

"  Let 's  see  if  his  drab  will  shrink  in  salt  water !  " 
cried  a  third. 

The  crowd  pushed  forward. 

"  Hold  back,  hold  back  !  "  said  Crane ;  "  let  us  have 
none  of  this.  Let  us  not  spoil  this  fine  Sabbath  with 
a  murder !  We  have  serious  business  ahead  and 
plenty  of  it,  and  my  blood  runs  hot  with  yours.  The 
Committee  of  Correspondence  will  meet  to-day;  aye, 
and  there  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen  of  the 
Town." 

"  Will  they  meet  on  the  Sabbath  ?  "  asked  one  and 
another. 

"  Aye,  meet  they  will ;  for  the  Sabbath  was  made 
for  man !  " 

"  Yes,  but  not  for  man's  ordinary  duties  !  There 
are  six  days  in  which  the  Selectmen  may  hold  meet 
ings,  but  the  seventh  is  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  our 
God  !  " 


24O         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  Be  silent !  "  said  Crane.  "  Have  you  never  read 
that  if  an  ox  or  an  ass  be  in  a  pit,  the  Sabbath  is 
none  too  good  to  get  him  out  ?  It  is  more  than  an 
ox,  to-day ;  it  is  our  liberties !  Aye,  and  this  day 
is  none  too  sacred  to  pull  them  out  if  we  may !  " 

"Meantime,"  said  one,  "this  Quaker  will  have 
entered  the  ship  at  the  Custom  House,  and  be  land 
ing  his  tea ! " 

"  Nay,  nay,  I  will  not  land  it  on  the  Sabbath,"  said 
Rotch. 

"Say  that  you  will  not  enter  the  ship  at  the  Col 
lector's,"  said  Crane. 

"  Nay,  I  will  not  until  to-morrow,"  replied  Rotch. 

"  Make  it  Tuesday,"  persisted  Crane ;  "  for  the 
people's  anger  runs  high." 

"Tuesday,  then,  if  you  say  so.  I  pledge  you  my 
word  I  will  not  cause  the  ship  to  be  entered  till 
Tuesday." 

"  Make  him  swear  to  it,"  cried  some  one  in  the 
crowd. 

"  Nay,  friend,  for  the  Word  of  God  says,  '  Swear 
not  at  all.'  I  give  thee  the  word  of  an  honest  man." 

"  Be  satisfied  with  that,"  called  Crane.  "  He  says 
he  will  take  no  step  until  Tuesday,  and  Master  Rotch 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  24! 

is  an  honest  man  and  will  keep  his  word.  Make 
way,  now,  and  let  him  pass  to  his  home  in  peace, 
and  see  you  molest  him  not.  We  shall  know  to 
morrow  what  we  ought  to  do." 

"  Friend  Crane,"  said  Rotch,  as  they  made  their 
way  together  through  the  crowd,  "  thee  and  thy 
friends  here  have  great  regard  for  the  Sabbath,  and 
much  fear  lest  I  break  it  by  any  move  toward  land 
ing  the  tea.  Does  it  strike  thee  as  the  least  bit  in 
consistent  that  the  Sabbath  should  be  too  sacred  for 
me  to  record  the  safe  arrival  of  my  ship,  and  her 
readiness  to  discharge  her  cargo,  but  not  too  sacred 
for  thee  and  thy  friends  to  spend  the  day  in  plotting 
how  they  shall  prevent  her  landing?" 

"Ah,  well,"  said  Crane,  "we  are  too  much  in 
earnest  to  be  consistent.  No  day  that  God  ever 
made  was  bad  enough  for  the  landing  of  your  in 
fernal  tea,  and  none  too  good  to  prevent  it." 

"  I  should  not  have  landed  it  upon  the  Sabbath,  in 
any  case,"  said  Rotch ;  "  but  I  only  wonder  a  little 
that  they  think  it  necessary  for  me  to  give  my  word, 
while  they  go  on  and  spend  the  day  in  meetings  of 
the  Selectmen  and  in  gatherings  held  behind  closed 
doors,  and  all  for  the  glory  of  God." 


242  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"  Hark  you,  friend  Rotch,"  said  Crane,  "  I  have  no 
breath  to  spend  in  argument  with  you.  That  tea 
shall  not  come  to  land.  I  would  burn  your  vessel 
to  the  water's  edge,  were  seven  Sabbaths  rolled  into 
one,  before  I  would  see  a  chest  of  it  set  on  Long 
Wharf." 

The  Selectmen  were  in  session  all  that  Sabbath 
day  until  nine  o'clock  that  night.  Repeatedly  they 
sent  their  demands  to  the  Hutchinsons  and  the 
Clarkes  that  the  tea  should  be  reshipped  to  London. 
It  was  agreed  that  the  tea  should  not  land,  but 
beyond  that  no  decision  was  reached. 

A  few  people  gathered  in  the  meeting-houses  of 
the  town,  but  most  of  its  citizens  collected  in  little 
knots  upon  the  corner,  their  voices  now  rising  in 
angry  discussion,  then  modulated  when  they  remem 
bered  it  was  the  Sabbath,  and  all  day  Long  Wharf 
was  thronged. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Bradlees,  with  Gammel,  and 
Bolter,  dnd  other  neighbors  and  employees  of  Crane, 
held  a  secret  meeting  in  the  carpenter  shop.  John 
was  only  a  lad,  and  was  not  admitted,  save  to  take 
them  in  some  light  refreshment. 

There   was   a   meeting   at   the    Green    Dragon,  too, 


A    NOISY    SABBATH  243 

that  evening ;  and  what  was  done  there  was  not 
known.  A  similar  meeting  was  held  in  the  long 
room  above  the  printing-office,  and  the  older  men 
of  the  shop  were  gathered  there  with  Adams  and 
Revere. 

John  and  Tom  were  sitting  together  in  the  office, 
late  in  the  afternoon,  when  Mr.  Edes  came  out  and 
handed  Tom  a  written  and  corrected  sheet. 

"  Set  this  up  in  good  bold  type,  and  run  it  upon 
the  press,  but  mind  you  date  it  to-morrow." 

Tom  went  to  the  case,  and  John  stood  beside  him 
holding  the  copy  that  bore  marks  of  the  handwriting 
of  several  men  in  its  interlineations  and  erasures,  and 
read  to  him  the  phrases  as  Tom  put  them  into  type. 

Friends !  Brethren !  Countrymen !  That  worst  of 
plagues,  the  detested  tea,  shipped  for  this  port  by  the  East 
India  Company,  is  now  arrived  in  this  harbor ;  the  hour 
of  destruction  or  manly  opposition  to  the  machinations  of 
tyranny  stares  you  in  the  face ;  every  friend  to  his  country, 
to  himself,  and  posterity,  is  now  called  to  meet  at  Faneuil 
Hall  at  nine  o'clock  this  day  (at  which  time  the  bells  will 
ring),  to  make  a  united  and  successful  resistance  to  this 
last,  worst,  and  most  destructive  measure  of  administration. 

BOSTON,  November  29,   1773. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

THE   CRADLE    OF   LIBERTY 

"  SHALL  we  go  to  work  this  morning  ? "  asked 
John  Farwell  of  his  master. 

"  No,  there  is  no  work  to-day,"  said  Crane.  "  Let 
every  man  who  loves  his  country  now  be  in  the  heart 
of  the  town,  for  we  can  little  tell ,  what  this  day  may 
bring  forth." 

"  Be  careful,  John,"  said  his  wife,  "  what  you  do 
to-day,  for  you  had  ever  a  quick  temper,  though  a 
kind  heart !  " 

"  Just  like  you,  dear  Mehitable !  Great  love  you 
have  for  your  husband,  but  little  confidence  in  his 
judgment !  " 

"  I  have  every  confidence  in  you,  my  dear,"  said 
she,  "  only  I  wish  that  no  sudden  burst  of  passion 
may  carry  you  off  your  feet !  " 

"  I  will  see  to  that,"  said  Crane. 

"  Aye,  be  prudent !  "  said  she. 

244 


THE    CRADLE    OF    LIBERTY  245 

"  Prudent !  "  cried  Crane.  "  Prudence  is  the  one 
thing  not  necessary  now  !  We  are  killed  with  pru 
dence  !  The  old  men  and  the  rich  men  and  the 
prosperous  men  are  well-nigh  all  prudent !  It  is 
only  the  youngsters  like  John  here,  and  a  few  hot 
heads  like  this  quick  and  passionate  old  husband  of 
yours,  with  a  sprinkling  of  level-headed  men  like 
Adams  and  Hancock  and  the  rest,  that  hold  the 
destinies  of  this  Commonwealth  in  their  hands  at 
this  hour  !  " 

"  Nevertheless,"  said  she,  "  I  count  prudence  one 
of  the  first  virtues." 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Crane,  "  save  in  emergencies  like 
this;  then  Prudence  may  better  tuck  itself  away  in 
bed,  while  Valor  walks  forth  with  sword  in  hand  !  — 
Have  you  broken  your  fast,  young  fellow  ?  " 

"Aye,"  said  John;  "I  have  had  enough  to  eat." 

"  Best  eat  for  two  meals,  for  there  is  little  likeli 
hood  that  you  will  get  back  for  noon.  The  bells 
will  ring  at  nine  o'clock  for  a  meeting  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  but  we  had  best  get  down  there  or  we  will 
find  no  room." 

There  was  little  need  to  ring  the  bells  that  morn 
ing,  for  Faneuil  Hall  was  packed,  both  floor  and 


246         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

gallery,  long  before  the  clock  struck  the  hour  of 
nine.  Meeting  was  called  to  order  immediately,  but 
the  crowd  outside  was  so  much  larger  than  that 
within,  that  immediate  adjournment  was  had  to  the 
Old  South  Meeting-house,  which,  from  that  day 
forth  till  the  end  of  the  controversy  about  the  tea, 
was  the  place  of  the  public  meetings. 

Noble  Old  South  !  She  still  stands  on  the  old 
historic  lot  which,  in  the  first  settlement  of  Boston, 
constituted  the  homestead  of  Governor  John  Win- 
throp.  Noble  monument  to  the  religious  and  patri 
otic  spirit  of  Colonial  days,  it  stands,  the  high-water 
mark  of  Colonial  patriotism,  and  the  monument  mark 
ing  the  limit  of  the  disastrous  fire  which  in  1872 
laid  the  business  part  of  Boston  in  ashes.  Occupied 
by  a  congregation  which  had  learned  self-government 
in  the  church,  it  readily  came  to  lend  itself  to  the 
spirit  which  demands  the  right  of  self-government  in 
the  state.  Faneuil  Hall  was,  indeed,  the  Cradle  of 
Liberty,  but  whenever  the  child  Liberty  grew  too 
robust  to  stay  within  the  Cradle,  he  found  his  school 
and  training  ground  where  more  advanced  lessons 
of  liberty  were  taught,  within  the  walls  of  the  Old 
South  !  Here  had  been  held,  year  by  year,  the  anni- 


THE    CRADLE    OF    LIBERTY  247 

versary  of  the  Massacre,  which  friends  of  the  Govern 
ment  had  come  to  dread.  Here  from  time  to  time 
had  convened  other  meetings  demanding  of  the  royal 
governor  the  rights  of  the  people.  It  stood  across 
the  street  and  almost  opposite  the  Province  House, 
home  of  the  provincial  governors  and  seat  of  royal 
authority  in  Boston. 

Again  and  again  has  Hawthorne  in  his  tales  of 
the  Province  House  struck  a  note  of  terror  to  its 
occupants  from  the  bell  of  the  Old  South.  The  Prov 
ince  House  is  in  ruins  to-day,  but  the  Old  South  still 
stands,  a  monument  to  that  sentiment  in  both  church 
and  state  which  finds  its  present  expression  in  our  free 
and  democratic  government. 

Assembled  in  the  Old  South,  the  attention  of  the 
meeting  was  called  to  the  proceedings  of  the  last 
town  meeting,  in  which  the  people  had  declared  that 
they  would  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  prevent  the 
landing  of  the  tea,  and  the  question  was  put  to  vote 
of  the  meeting  whether  the  tea  having  now  arrived, 
and  the  people  being  face  to  face,  not  with  a  theory, 
but  with  a  real  emergency,  they  were  still  absolutely 
determined  that  the  tea  should  be  returned  to  the 
place  from  which  it  came. 


248         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

The  assembly,  with  one  mighty  voice,  voted  in  the 
affirmative,  and  the  call  for  the  negative  vote  was 
received  in  silence.  There  was  little  else  accom 
plished  in  the  morning  hour.  The  people  did  little 
except  to  reaffirm  what  they  had  said  before,  and  to 
determine  that  at  all  hazards  they  would  stand  by 
their  original  declaration. 

This  word  was  sent  to  the  consignees,  and  in  the 
afternoon  the  people  met  again  to  hear  their  answer. 
No  answer  came  at  first,  but  Francis  Rotch  was  dis 
covered  in  the  audience  and  called  upon  to  make  a 
statement  of  his  position. 

Mr.  Rotch  replied  that  he  had  no  other  statement 
to  make  than  that  to  protect  himself  in  this  matter 
he  should  enter  a  legal  protest  against  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  meeting. 

The  meeting  chafed  and  fretted  and  waited  for  a 
word  from  the  consignees.  Late  in  the  afternoon, 
John  Hancock  entered,  and  with  him  Copley,  the 
painter,  whose  portraits  were  to  make  him  famous  in 
after  years. 

"  I  bear  a  message  from  Mr.  Clarke,  my  father- 
in-law,  and  the  other  consignees  of  the  tea,"  said 
Copley. 


THE    CRADLE    OF    LIBERTY  249 

"A  tardy  message,"  said  the  Moderator,  Jonathan 
Williams,  "  and  we  have  been  kept  waiting  for  it  quite 
too  long." 

"  Mr.  Clarke  desired  me  to  say,"  said  Copley,  "  that 
the  letter  which  brought  the  information  concerning 
the  terms  on  which  the  tea  was  shipped,  was  not 
delivered  until  late  last  evening,  and  that  the  con 
signees  have  been  too  much  scattered  to  get  together 
and  decide  upon  their  action  during  the  day." 

"And  what  is  the  message?"  asked  the  Moderator. 

"This  is  the  message  which  I  have  just  given 
you ! " 

"  A  sorry  excuse  for  a  message ! "  said  the  Mod 
erator.  "What  we  want  is  an  answer  to  our  ques 
tion,  Will  the  consignees  ship  back  the  tea  without 
unloading  it  ? " 

"That  they  cannot  answer,"  said  Copley,  "till  they 
have  time  to  confer." 

"  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Mr.  Molineux,  "  I  want  to 
remind  the  gentleman  who  brings  this  message,  that 
it  is  well-nigh  insulting.  We  have  been  sending  mes 
sages  to  the  consignees  ever  since  we  knew  that  the 
tea  was  coming  upon  us,  and  we  have  demanded  one 
thing  and  one  thing  only,  and  it  brings  them  no  sur- 


250  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

prise  that  we  repeat  it  now.  They  have  known  all 
along  what  we  demanded,  they  have  steadily  evaded 
our  demand,  saying  that  they  cannot  answer  until 
they  know  on  what  condition  the  tea  had  been  articled 
to  them.  They  have  said  that  they  would  answer  us 
as  soon  as  it  had  arrived.  It  has  arrived,  and  they 
give  us  no  answer  but  another  evasion.  It  has  come, 
and  they  are  scattered  so  they  cannot  hold  a  meeting. 
But  they  have  been  huddled  together  behind  closed 
doors  until  this  time  comes  when  it  is  their  business 
to  meet.  Why  have  they  been  scattered,  why  do  they 
steadily  evade  us  ?  If  they  did  not  know  until  last 
evening  on  what  terms  the  tea  had  come,  they  might 
have  known  early  yesterday  morning ;  but  even  if 
they  knew  only  last  evening,  they  have  had  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  should  have  answered  us  like  men 
instead  of  quibbling  and  evading,  as  they  seek  to  do." 

"  Have  you  no  letters  from  them  ? "  asked  the 
Moderator. 

"I  —  I  beg  to  deliver  to  you  simply  this  verbal  mes 
sage." 

"  He  has  a  letter ! "  called  Captain  Mackintosh. 
"  He  has  a  letter,  and  he  is  afraid  to  deliver  it ! " 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said   Copley,  "if  I  have  a  letter, 


THE    CRADLE    OF    LIBERTY 

I  have  also  discretion  as  to  the  use  of  it,  and,  knowing 
the  contents  of  the  letter,  I  think  it  unwise,  at  this 
time,  to  communicate  it  to  this  assembly.  Jt  would 
bring  you  no  satisfaction.  I  beg  you  that  you  give 
these  gentlemen  more  time  for  consideration.  I  have 
a  letter,  I  admit,  but,  observing  the  temper  of  this 
assembly,  I  think  it  better  to  withhold  it,  and  say 
simply  that  the  consignees  desire  more  time." 

"More  time!"  shouted  many  voices.  "A  subter 
fuge,  and  they  will  land  the  tea  by  night !  " 

"  Order,  gentlemen  !  "  said  the  Moderator. 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  John  Hancock,  "notwith 
standing  our  strong  desire  to  bring  this  matter  to  a 
conclusion,  and  the  time  which  we  have  already  ex 
pended  to  no  purpose,  I  move  that,  out  of  great  and 
excessive  tenderness  for  these  gentlemen,  we  give 
them  until  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  to  answer 
our  demands." 

The  motion  was  hotly  debated.  John  Crane  and 
Paul  Revere  were  for  immediate  action.  Samuel 
Adams  and  Dr.  Warren  favored  the  delay.  At  length 
the  more  moderate  council  prevailed,  and  it  was  de 
termined  to  wait  until  the  morrow,  and  Copley  with 
drew,  bearing  this  information  to  the  consignees. 


WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  John  Crane,  "in  order  to 
prevent  the  surreptitious  landing  of  the  tea,  I  move 
you  that  a  watch  be  kept  upon  the  vessels,  —  a  watch 
to  consist  of  twenty-five  men,  to  be  commanded  by 
Captain  Edward  Proctor,  and  that  no  one  be  allowed 
to  go  aboard  or  come  ashore  after  sunset  until  sun 
rise." 

The  motion  was  seconded,  and  carried  unanimously. 

"  I,  too,  have  a  motion,  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Paul 
Revere.  "The  information  comes  to  us  that  the 
Governor  himself,  whom  we  have  known  all  along  as 
the  real  cat  in  the  meal,  is  using  his  office  as  well 
as  his  sons  and  cousins,  and  endeavoring  to  -use  the 
power  of  the  magistrates  to  thwart  the  will  of  the 
people.  I  am  informed  that  he  has  required  the  jus 
tices  of  the  peace  in  this  town  to  meet,  and  use  their 
endeavors  to  suppress  any  routs  and  riots  of  the 
people,  and  to  make  arrests  in  case  of  any  disturb 
ance.  I  move  you  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting 
that  the  Governor's  conduct  herein  carries  a  decided 
reflection  on  the  people  here,  met,  and  is  solely  calcu 
lated  to  serve  the  ends  of  the  administration,  and  is 
highly  displeasing  to  the  people  of  this  town." 

The  motion,   which  was  indeed   a  vote   of   censure 


THE    CRADLE    OF    LIBERTY  253 

upon  the  Governor,  was  carried  without  a  dissenting 
voice. 

"And  now,  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Samuel  Adams, 
"before  the  adjournment  I  want  to  express  the  hope 
that  there  may  be  no  disorder  in  the  town  this  night. 
What  we  may  be  called  upon  to  do  later  we  do  not 
know ;  but,  having  given  time  to  the  consignees  to 
give  to  us  an  answer,  let  no  pressure  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  them,  but  let  us  know  what  they  intend 
to  do.  Let  us  quietly  adjourn,  and  come  together  in 
the  morning." 

This  word  of  Adams  fell  like  a  benediction  on  the 
disturbed  and  impatient  assembly,  and  after  a  little 
more  discussion  they  adjourned  until  nine  o'clock  the 
next  day. 

John  had  been  an  interested  spectator  of  these  pro 
ceedings.  He  had  looked  around  often  to  see  if  Tom 
was  there,  but  he  had  not  found  him.  Once  he  had 
seen  Will  Sewall  high  up  in  the  slaves'  gallery  at  the 
end  of  the  meeting-house.  Even  the  Old  South  had 
its  slaves'  gallery ! 

The  meeting  adjourned,  and  the  crowd  dispersed, 
some  going  thoughtfully  toward  home,  and  others 
standing  about  in  earnest  conversation. 


CHAPTER   XX 

THE   TEA-PARTY    BIBLE 

JOHN  turned  up  School  Street  and  was  walking 
rather  aimlessly  toward  home,  after  the  adjournment 
of  the  Old  South  Meeting. 

"Well,  young  fellow,"  said  a  full,  strong  voice  in 
his  ear,  "what  think  you  of  that  gathering?" 

"  A  most  interesting  meeting,  Dr.  Byles,"  said  John. 

"  Interesting  and  ominous !  There  will  be  trouble 
here,  lad,  before  this  is  over.  Aye,  and  bloodshed, 
like  enough.  The  temper  of  the  mob  is  up,  and 
there  is  no  telling  what  may  happen.  You  are  a  lad 
of  some  sense,  though  you  share  John  Crane's  poli 
tics.  Be  warned,  young  fellow,  and  keep  your  own 
neck  out  of  the  halter.  Be  what  you  call  a  patriot 
if  you  will,  but  look  you  to  it  that  you  throw  no 
bricks  and  fire  no  houses.  Come  with  me  for  a  little 
walk.  I  am  going  with  a  message  of  warning  to 
Francis  Rotch.  Fine  young  fellow,  that  Rotch  is, 

254 


WELL,  YOUNG  FELLOW." 


THE    TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  255 

though  he  be  a  Quaker,  and  in  sore  need  of  a  little 
sound  advice,  I  take  it.  Come  on  with  me,  and  I 
will  make  a  call  upon  him.  Nay,  I  do  not  mean  to 
stop,  but  just  look  in  at  the  door! 

"Ah,  lad,  I  say  again,  having  seen  that  meeting, 
what  I  have  said  this  many  times:  I  would  rather  be 
governed  by  one  tyrant  three  thousand  miles  away, 
than  three  thousand  tyrants  not  one  mile  away !  " 

"  Then  even  you  think  King  George  a  tyrant  ? " 
asked  John. 

"Oh,  call  it  what  you  will,"  said  Byles.  "These 
people  have  much  respect  for  royalty,  spite  all  their 
democratic  professions.  These  people  are  careful  to 
say  it  is  the  King's  ministers  and  Parliament  that  is 
to  blame ;  but  between  you  and  me,  my.  lad,  it  is  the 
King  himself  who  is  the  fool ;  for,  what  is  a  crown  on 
a  man's  head  if  there  be  but  little  brains  beneath  it  ? 
The  King  is  acting  the  part  of  a  fool,  I  make  no 
doubt,  but  give  them  time  enough,  and  his  ministers, 
against  whom  these  people  so  complain,  would  bring 
him  to  his  senses ;  yet  what  ministers,  even  ministers 
of  the  Gospel,  could  bring  that  mob  to  its  senses !  " 

"  But  a  king  —    '  interposed  John. 

"  Nay,  nay,  lad,   I   would    rather   have   a   king    and 


256        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

let  him  be  a  bigot  or  a  fool,  now  and  then,  if  he 
will,  than  mix  in  the  ignoble  broils  of  a  company  such 
as  this!" 

"But  the  people  —  "  said  John,  "what  think  you  of 
the  people  ? " 

"  The  people,  the  people !  Fudge !  What  do  you 
mean  by  the  people  ?  Lad,  how  are  you  going  to 
get  perfect  wisdom,  by  counting  the  noses  of  fools  ? 
When  you  say  people,  you  mean  the  mob.  Mind  you, 
lad,  this  world  will  be  governed  to  the  end,  not  by 
the  consent  of  the  governed,  as  these  hot-heads  say. 
The  less  people  consent  to  be  governed,  the  more 
they  need  government,  and  when  they  once  consent, 
the  need  of  government  is  gone." 

"  But  are  not  the  people  best  able  to  administer 
their  own  government?" 

"  No,  government  is  best  administered  when  you 
have  one  man  whom  you  can  hold  responsible." 

"  But  how  can  you  hold  that  man  responsible,  if 
that  man  be  the  king?" 

"  A  difficult  case,  I  grant  you,  especially  when  the 
king  is  given  over  to  folly,  "but  yet  you  can  always 
do  something  with  one  man ;  you  can  entreat  him, 
threaten  him,  or  even  dethrone  him,  as  they  did 


THE   TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  257 

James  the  Second,  or  chop  off  his  head  as  they  did 
Charles  the  First's ;  but,  lad,  how  shall  you  chop  off 
the  head  of  that  hydra  that  filled  the  Old  South  to-day 
with  its  vile  smell  and  its  rampant  talk?  It  would  be 
a  rich  day  for  the  headsman,  I  warrant  you,  and  the 
community  would  rest  safer  in  its  bed  at  night !  But 
even  a  Cromwell,  rascal  that  he  was,  and  murderer, 
too,  were  hardly  equal  to  such  decapitation." 

"There  would  be  many  heads  to  chop,"  said  John, 
"in  that  case." 

"  Nay,  and  should  one  chop  the  heads  off  all 
those,  others  would  grow  again ;  for  who  knows  what 
day  there  shall  spring  up  from  the  dregs  of  society 
another  head  all  mouth  and  no  brain,  who  shall  spout 
yet  more  in  the  name  of  the  people,  and  subvert 
government  and  turn  us  over  to  the  misrule  of  the 
mob  ?  Mind  you,  lad,  I  am  not  so  much  of  a  fool 
as  they  think  I  am,  and  I  see  well  what  is  coming. 
These  people  will  not  stop  till  they  have  a  country 
of  their  own,  and  the  squabbles  and  the  broils  which 
they  will  bring  upon  themselves  will  out-Herod  the 
misrule  of  any  mad  king  since  Midas  with  his  ass's 
ears !  But,  stay,  here  is  the  Quaker's  house." 

"Good  morrow,  Master  Rotch,"  said  Dr.  Byles,  as, 


258         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

without  knocking,  he  opened  the  door  and  stepped 
within. 

Francis  Rotch  sat  by  a  little  mahogany  table,  on 
which  stood  a  lighted  candle,  for  dusk  was  coming 
on,  and  before  him  was  spread  out  an  open  Bible. 

"We  have  interrupted  you  at  your  devotions,"  said 
Byles. 

"  Nay,  this  is  not  my  time  for  prayer,  but  I  came 
back  wearied  and  anxious,  and  sat  down  for  a  little 
time  to  read." 

"A  fine  Bible  you  have  there,"  said  Byles. 

"Yes,  I  had  it  bought  in  London,  and  bound  there 
for  me.  It  is  a  fine  new  folio,  printed  four  years 
ago." 

"Let  me  look  at  it,"  said  Dr.  Byles.  "A  Bible 
good  enough  for  any  pulpit  in  the  town  !  Who  are 
the  printers  ?  Ah  !  Thomas  Baskett,  the  son  of  old 
Robert  Baskett,  who  has  printed  Bibles  in  London 
these  many  years.  I  know  of  them  well.  It  was  they 
who  printed  the  Vinegar  Bible.  Let  me  look  and  see 
if  they  have  corrected  that  old  blunder.  Have  you 
heard  about  it,  lad  ?  In  the  twentieth  of  Luke  comes, 
you  know,  the  parable  of  the  vineyard.  Well,  the 
Bible  which  they  printed  in  1717  had  the  heading 


THE    TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  259 

of  that  chapter,  '  The  parable  of  the  vinegar  ! '  An 
odd  blunder,  was  it  not?  But  printers  are  ever  mak 
ing  blunders  !  " 

"  I  did  not  know  of  that,"  said  Rotch.  "  See  if 
this  one  has  it  so." 

"  No,  this  one  is  corrected,  and  all  the  better  for  it. 
I  am  glad  you  have  it,  Rotch.  It  is  a  fine  book,  and 
more  wisdom  to  be  had  in  one  verse  of  it,  than  in 
volumes  of  such  talk  as  we  had  to-day  in  the  Old 
South  !  " ! 

"Unwise  they  may  be,"  said  Rotch,  "but  stubborn 
they  are  also  !  " 

"  Aye,  stubborn  they  are,  and  you  need  not  hope 
to  stand  against  them  !  " 

"  I  am  sorely  in  need  of  wisdom,  Dr.  Byles,"  said 
Rotch,  "  and  glad  enough  to  have  you  come  to  me. 
Tell  me,  what  shall  I  do?" 

1  The  fine  old  Bible  belonging  to  Francis  Rotch  remained  in  his  fam 
ily  till  1895.  The  second  wife  of  Francis  Rotch,  his  cousin  Nancy,  was 
born  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  and  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-two, 
and  died  the  twenty-fourth  of  April,  1867.  She  left  this  rare  old  Bible, 
known  as  the  Tea-Party  Bible,  to  her  husband's  great-niece,  Mrs.  Mary 
Ann  Rotch  Allan,  who  was  a  descendant  also  of  John  Crane.  Mrs.  Allan 
died  October  14,  1898,  and  had  previously  given  this  Bible  with  other 
relics  of  the  Tea-Party  and  of  Francis  Rotch  to  the  author  of  this  book. 


26O         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"Do  this,"  said  Dr.  Byles :  "go  to  them  to-morrow 
morning  and  wash  your  hands  of  the  matter.  Tell 
them  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  you  are  willing  to 
send  back  the  tea.  They  will  burn  your  ship,  tea 
and  all,  if  you  don't,  and  the  tea  is  nothing  to  you, 
man.  The  King  is  a  fool,  and  the  East  India  Com- 
pany  are  knaves.  Let  them  bear  the  responsibility 
of  this,  and  get  you  clear  of  it.  Go  to  John  Adams 
and  retain  him  for  your  lawyer ;  he  will  give  you  good 
advice.  His  sympathies  are  with  these  rebels,  but  he 
is  not  a  bigot  like  Sam.  He  argued  against  the 
Stamp  Act,  but  he  defended  Preston  and  the  soldiers 
when  arrested  for  the  killing  of  that  miserable  negro, 
Attucks.  He  needed  killing  quite  as  badly  as  any 
man  that  ever  stretched  hemp  or  stopped  a  righteous 
bullet.  Go  to  Adams ;  you  may  trust  him,  and  ask 
him  how  you  may  legally  discharge  your  duty  in  this 
matter,  without  making  yourself  responsible  to  the 
owners  of  the  tea,  or  bringing  down  upon  you  the  fury 
of  the  mob." 

"  Your  advice  is  good," -said  Rotch  ;  "  I  will  take  it." 

"  Yes ;  you  have  no  call  to  stand  out  against  these 

men,  and  have  them  mob  you  or  destroy  your  ship. 

You  are  in  a  difficult  place;  but  if  you  can  promise 


THE    TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  26 1 

them  to  send  back  the  tea,  and  then  make  Hutchinson 
agree  with  you,  you  will  do  well,  and  I  will  go  from 
here  to  Clarke  and  talk  with  him.  He  is  a  sensible 
old  fellow,  is  Clarke,  and  a  fine  man  too,  though  losing 
his  temper  now,  and  in  danger  of  making  a  fool  of 
himself  because  the  mob  has  goaded  him  to  fury. 
Good  night,  Rotch  !  " 

"  Good  night,  Dr.  Byles ;  I  thank  you  for  your  ad 
vice,  which  is  wise." 

"  Men  may  learn  even  worldly  wisdom  from  the 
ministers,  if  they  will  but  heed  them,  now  and  then, 
and  they  like  their  advice  much  better  about  their 
ships  than  their  souls,  is  my  experience.  Come, 
youngster,  let  us  be  off  !  " 

"  I  will  go  with  you  part  way,"  said  John.  "  I  do 
not  care  to  call  at  Mr.  Clarke's." 

"  You  do  not  ?  and  why  not  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  in  favor  there,"  said  John. 

"Ah,  and  is  it  you  that  helped  to  smash  his 
windows  ? " 

"  No,  not  that,  but  still  he  likes  me  not ! " 

"  Oh,  well,  have  your  will  then,  but  walk  along 
with  me  a  piece ;  for  I  like  good  company,  and  mine 
to  you,  perhaps,  will  be  better  than  none." 


262         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  I  greatly  enjoy  your  conversation,  sir,"  said  John, 
'•  and  you  will  tell  me  some  things  which  perhaps  I 
need  to  know.  Still  though  I  cannot  argue  with  you, 
I  think  I—" 

"  Oh,  I  know  what  you  think  with  the  other  young 
hot-heads !  You  think  that  I  am  hopelessly  behind 
the  times !  Hold  on,  whom  have  we  here  ?  Con 
stable  Berry  !  And  what  do  you  suppose  he  wants  ? 
He  is  coming  to  us,  and  that  young  fellow  with  him 
pointing  us  out." 

The  constable  was  coming  toward  them,  manifestly, 
and  with  him  was  a  young  fellow  whom  John  knew 
well. 

"There  he  is,"  said  Job  Morris;  "that  is  John 
Farwell  who  is  named  in  the  warrant !  Catch  him ! 
He  can  run  like  a  deer !  " 

"  Ah,  young  fellow,  and  do  you  run  from  the  offi 
cers?"  asked  Dr.  Byles.  "If  I  read  your  face  aright, 
you  have  little  reason  to  fear  the  officers !  Well,  Con 
stable,  and  what  do  you  want  ?  Yes,  this  is  John 
Farwell ;  have  you  his  name  in  the  warrant  ?  And 
maybe  you  have  mine,  too  ?  There  is  no  telling  in 
this  day  what  man  is  likely  to  be  arrested.  John 
Farwell  and  Mather  Byles.  That  would  sound  well ! 


THE    TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  263 

You  have  not  my  name  ?  Well,  John,  and  so  they 
will  not  let  you  have  me  for  company  in  the  warrant, 
but  let  me  see  what  all  this  means.  I  will  go  along 
with  you.  Tell  me,  Constable,  what  is  the  charge 
against  him,  and  who  is  the  complainant?" 

"  Richard  Clarke,  sir,  is  the  complainant,  and  the 
charge  is  that  this  young  fellow,  with  others  not  hav 
ing  the  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes,  did  feloniously 
conspire  together  against  the  person  and  the  prop 
erty  of  said  Clarke,  and  wilfully  and  maliciously 
assault  him  in  his  house." 

"  Aye,  aye,"  said  Byles ;  "  I  am  familiar  with  your 
legal  lingo.  Here,  lad,  I  thought  you  told  me  you 
threw  no  stones  ?  " 

"I  threw  none,"  said  John,  "though  I  was  with 
the  crowd ;  and  really,  sir,  that  is  not  the  thing  for 
which  Mr.  Clarke  would  have  me  arrested,  nor  is 
it  I  whom  truly  he  wants." 

"  Ah,  well,  I  will  walk  along  with  you.  What 
Justice  issued  the  warrant  ? " 

"Justice  Hatch,"  said  the  constable. 

"Well,  let  us  go  first  to  Clarke's, — for  I  am  going 
that  way,  —  and  bring  this  lad  along.  I  would  like 
to  have  a  word  with  Clarke  about  him." 


264  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

So  they  marched  together  toward  the  house  which 
John  knew  now  so  well.  Job  Morris  followed  in 
the  rear. 

"What  do  you  want  here,  young  fellow?"  asked 
Byles.  "Is  this  any  business  of  yours ?  Well,  go 
home  and  let  the  law  take  its  course  with  this  young 
man,  and  see  that  you  behave  yourself,  lest  you  find  that 
peaked  face  of  yours  looking  out  from  behind  the  bars! " 

"Now,  lad,"  turning  to  John,  "tell  me  all  about 
it.  What  did  you  do?" 

"I  left  a  letter  at  his  door  on  Hallowe'en — a  letter 
telling  him  to  come  to  the  Liberty  Tree  and  resign 
his  position  as  tea  factor." 

"And  is  this  all?" 

"All,  save  that  I  escaped  when  they  made  me 
prisoner." 

"And  did  you  write  the  letter?" 

"  Not  I !  " 

"  Of  course  you  did  not ;  you  went  only  as  errand 
boy,  and  better  would  it  have  been  had  you  not  done 
that.  But  stay;  we  are  at  the  house,  and  I  will  hear 
the  story  from  Clarke  himself." 

"Good  evening,  Mr.  Clarke.  The  constable  has 
brought  the  culprits ;  here  we  are !  Which  one  of 


THE   TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  265 

us  will  you  have  in  jail,  and  how  long  will  you 
sentence  us  ? " 

"  Always  at  your  jokes,  Dr.  Byles.  It  is  not  you 
I  want  to  sentence  at  all,  and,  indeed,  it  is  not  this 
lad,  though  he  is  a  shrewd  one  and  deep  in  this  whole 
mischief,  but  I  want  to  make  an  example  of  him !  " 

"  Yes,  yes !  Well,  he  has  told  me  what  he  did.  He 
had  no  hand  in  smashing  your  windows  unless  he 
lied,  and  as  to  the  letter,  he  acted  only  as  errand  boy." 

"I  want  to  make  him  tell  who  sent  it — " 

"  But  what  matter  is  that  ?  "  asked  Byles.  "  If  you 
want  names  of  those  who  like  not  the  way  you  are 
doing,  go  down  to  Faneuil  Hall  or  to  the  Old  South 
and  pick  them  out  who  are  saying  worse  things  than 
that  letter  said,  but  be  careful  how  you  arrest  a  lad 
like  this,  lest  you  make  yourself  more  trouble." 

"But  the  Governor  thought,"  said  Clarke,  "that  it 
would  be  better  for  us  to  have  the  magistrates  enforce 
the  law  against  a  few,  and  make  examples  of  them. 
The  magistrates,  as  yet,  have  done  nothing  to  protect 
us,  and  if  they  begin  with  a  simple  case  like  this,  less 
likely  to  be  contested,  perhaps  we  shall  stir  them  up 
to  a  sense  of  their  duty." 

"  Now  you  speak  words  of  folly,  and  not  your  usual 


266  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

wisdom,"  said  Byles.  "Can't  you  see  that  the  very 
fact  that  you  arrest  a  boy  will  make  the  mob  more 
angry  ?  Have  you  forgotten  the  funeral  of  Chris 
Snyder,  who,  just  because  he  was  a  boy  and  had  few 
friends,  called  out  the  fury  of  the  mob  ?  Nay,  nay, 
if  you  want  to  make  a  test  case,  arrest  Revere  or 
Adams  or  some  of  them,  but  mind  you,  you  will  make 
a  mistake  if  you  arrest  a  lad  like  this." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ? " 

"  Think  so !  I  know  it.  Why,  look  here,  man,  he 
is  but  an  apprentice,  and  who  is  his  employer  ? 
John  Crane !  Ah,  John  Crane,  as  good-hearted,  hot 
headed  a  fellow  as  may  be  found  on  the  three  hills 
of  Boston,  with  a  temper  like  a  rip-saw,  and  with 
his  journeymen  and  apprentices  ready  to  rise  in  fury 
at  the  first  note  of  warning !  Let  them  but  miss 
this  lad  at  supper  time,  —  and  that  is  near,  —  and  hear 
that  you  have  him  under  arrest,  and  what  think  you 
will  happen  ?  You  will  have  every  housewright  and 
ropemaker  and  apprentice  in  the  town  of  Boston  in 
your  yard  before  midnight,  and  they  will  pull  down 
your  house  about  your  ears  as  they  did  Oliver's 
stamp-office,  and  take  him  from  the  jail,  though 
they  knock  down  the  jailer  with  his  own  keys,  and 


THE    TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  267 

bear  the  rescued  lad  in  procession  to  their  Upas-tree 
in  the  South  End  and  speechify  and  orate  and  talk 
nonsense  and  burn  incense  to  their  little  tin  god 
they  call  the  people,  and  I  know  not  what  more, 
save  that  before  the  dawn  there  will  be  bloodshed  — 
mind  you  that!  I  write  the  outcome  on  the  wall 
before  you,  if  you  send  this  boy  to  jail,  and  it  will 
be  written  in  red  ere  sunrise." 

The  old  man  trembled. 

"Call  my  sons,"  said  he  to  the  servant,  "and  call 
Copley  hither.  Hear  you  what  Dr.  Byles  says," 
said  he,  when  the  young  men  entered  the  room. 

"  Aye,  aye,  he  speaks  wisely,"  said  Copley. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  trust  the  judgment  of  the  Gov 
ernor,"  said  young  Jonathan  Clarke. 

"The  Governor!"  said  Byles;  "a  plague  upon  the 
Governor !  He  has  lost  his  head  as  has  the  King ! 
It  is  as  well  to  trust  the  Governor  as  it  is  to  trust 
the  mob !  Come,  Copley,  get  on  your  hat  and  come 
with  me  to  Justice  Hatch  and  tell  him  that  Mr. 
Clarke  withdraws  his  charge,  and  to  set  this  lad  at 
liberty  before  John  Crane  misses  him  at  supper  time  ! 
What  say  you,  Clarke  ?  do  you  agree  ? " 

"  Dr.    Byles,"    said    Clarke,    "  I    know    your    inter- 


268         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

ests  and  sympathies  are  with  us.  I  believe  you 
advise  me  well.  Go,  Copley,  and  withdraw  the  com 
plaint,  and  you,  Constable,  I  thank  you  for  your 
prompt  action.  Wait  you  here  until  Copley  returns 
and  brings  the  magistrate  with  him.  Sit  down,  Dr. 
Byles.  Jonathan,  ring  for  some  light  refreshment 
for  the  Doctor !  Young  fellow,  you  are  well  out  of 
your  scrape  this  time,  but  mind  you  keep  out  of  my 
attic  hereafter ! " 

"  I  will,"  said  John,  with  a  little  laugh,  "  if  you  let 
me  keep  out  of  the  small  room  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs." 

The  magistrate  soon  came,  and  the  charge  was 
formally  withdrawn ;  and  Mather  Byles,  taking  up  the 
warrant  and  complaint,  held  both  of  them  in  the 
flame  of  the  candle  and  threw  the  burning  sheets  of 
paper  in  the  open  fire. 

"And  now,  lad,"  said  he  to  John,  "if  I  mistake 
not,  it  is  the  first  time  your  name  was  ever  writ  in 
a  legal  document  that  called  for  your  arrest.  See 
that  you  keep  it  out  of  such  papers,  hereafter.  Good 
night,  Mr.  Clarke.  No,  no,  I  do  not  need  a  lantern ; 
I  will  take  the  arm  of  this  young  rebel  here,  and 
he  shall  see  me  to  my  gate.  The  street  is  not  so 


THE   TEA-PARTY    BIBLE  269 

muddy  now  as  it  was  a  few  weeks  ago.  The  Select 
men  got  stuck  in  the  mud  themselves,  for  which  I 
thank  God  day  and  night,  for  they  have  mended 
their  ways." 

With  this  parting  pun  the  witty  old  Tory  minister 
and  John  withdrew. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

THE    QUAKER    SHIP-OWNER 

THE  next  morning  the  adjourned  meeting  was  held 
in  the  Old  South  Meeting-house.  Again  as  before 
it  was  packed  to  overflowing. 

"  Make  way  for  a  messenger,"  called  some  one  at 
the  door.  The  company  parted  and  made  a  narrow 
space  up  which  a  dignified  gentleman  passed. 

"  Mr.  Sheriff  Greenleaf,"  said  the  Moderator,  "  and 
do  you  bring  us  a  message  ? " 

"  I  do,"  said  the  Sheriff ;  "  a  proclamation  from  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  !  " 

The  audience  moved  uneasily.  It  was  not  for 
this  they  had  been  waiting,  and  they  were  impatient 
of  delay.  The  Moderator  rapped  upon  the  pulpit 
with  his  gavel. 

"  Attention  !  "  he  commanded.  "  The  Sheriff  will 
read  a  proclamation  from  the  Governor !  " 

The  company  listened  while  the  Sheriff  read  the 
following  proclamation  :  — 

270 


THE  QUAKER  SHIP-OWNER  2?  I 

"  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY.  BY  THE  GOVERNOR. 

"To  JONATHAN  WILLIAMS,  Esq.,  acting  as  Moderator  of  an 
assembly  of  people,  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  to  the 
people  so  assembled  :  — 

"  WHEREAS,  printed  notifications  were  on  Monday,  the  2gth 
inst.,  posted  in  divers  places  in  the  town  of  Boston,  and 
published  in  the  newspapers  of  this  day,  calling  upon  the 
people  to  assemble  together  for  certain  unlawful  purposes, 
in  such  notifications  mentioned ;  and  Whereas,  great  numbers 
of  persons  belonging  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  divers 
others  belonging  to  several  other  towns  in  the  Province, 
did  assemble  in  the  said  town  of  Boston,  on  the  said  day, 
and  did  then  and  there  proceed  to  chuse  a  moderator,  and 
to  consult,  debate,  and  resolve  upon  ways  and  means  for 
carrying  such  unlawful  purposes  into  execution,  openly  violat 
ing,  defying,  and  setting  at  naught  the  good  and  wholesome 
laws  of  the  Province,  and  the  constitution  of  Government 
under  which  they  live ;  and  Whereas,  the  people  thus 
assembled,  did  vote  or  agree  to  adjourn,  or  continue  their 
meeting  to  this  the  3©th  inst.,  and  great  numbers  of  them 
are  again  met  or  assembled  together  for  like  purpose,  in  the 
said  Town  of  Boston: 

"  In  faithfulness  to  my  trust,  and  as  his  Majesties  repre 
sentative  within  the  Province,  I  am  bound  to  bear  testimony 
against  this  violation  of  the  laws,  and  I  warn  and  exhort 
you  and  require  each  of  you  thus  unlawfully  assembled, 


2/2        WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

forthwith,    to   disperse   and   to   surcease   all   further  unlawful 
proceedings  at  your  utmost  peril. 

"Given  under  my  hand  at  Milton  in  the  Province  afore 
said,  the  3Oth  day  of  November,  1773,  and  in  the  four 
teenth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign. 

"T.  HUTCHINSON. 
"Bv  HIS  EXCELLENCY'S  COMMAND. 

"Tnos.  FLUCKER,  SECY." 

The  Sheriff  had  hardly  ceased  when  a  loud  and 
general  hiss  was  heard  all  through  the  church. 

"  What  will  you  do  ?  What  answer  will  you  make 
to  the  Governor's  proclamation  ? "  asked  the  Modera 
tor.  "  Is  it  the  pleasure  of  this  assembly  to  surcease 
all  further  proceedings  according  to  the  Governor's 
requirements  ?  All  who  favor  obeying  the  Governor 
in  this  matter  will  say,  Aye !  " 

Not  a  single  voice  was  heard. 

"  All  who  are  opposed  say,  No ! " 

The  negative  vote  proved  unanimous. 

"  Mr.  Francis  Rotch  has  arrived,"  said  some  one 
near  the  door. 

"Will  Mr.  Rotch  come  to  the  platform?"  asked 
the  Moderator. 

Mr.  Rotch,  still  wearing  his  broad-brimmed  hat, 
entered  and  faced  the  Moderator. 


THE    QUAKER    SHIP-OWNER  273 

"  Mr.  Rotch,  we  desire  to  know  whether  you  will 
return  the  teas  to  London  in  the  ship  that  they 
have  come  ? " 

"  I  can  speak  only  for  my  own  ship,"  said  Rotch, 
"  and  for  the  part  interest  I  have  in  one  now  ex 
pected,  but  I  am  ready  to  say  I  will  not  oppose 
the  will  of  the  town,  but  will  return  the  teas  without 
unloading  to  London.  Nevertheless,  I  shall  do  it 
under  protest,  and  throw  the  responsibility  upon  this 
meeting." 

"  And  what  says  your  captain  ? "  asked  the  Moder 
ator. 

"Captain  Hall  is  with  me  and  will  speak  for  him 
self." 

"  Captain  Hall,  do  you  concur  in  the  statement 
made  by  Mr.  Rotch?" 

"  I  do,"  said  Captain  Hall,  "  so  far  as  I  have  au 
thority.  The  tea  is  not  mine,  nor  the  ship,  except 
on  the  high  seas,  and  I  want  only  to  do  a  sailing-mas 
ter's  duty.  Let  me  be  given  authority  to  sail,  and  I 
will  weigh  anchor,  and  be  off  for  London  to-morrow." 

"  You  have  heard  the  statement  of  Captain  Hall 
and  Francis  Rotch,"  said  the  Moderator;  "are  they 
satisfactory  ? " 


2/4         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

The  meeting  voted  in  the  affirmative. 

"And  I  move,  also,"  said  Revere,  "that  we  exact 
the  same  conditions  of  owners  and  captains  of  the 
other  vessels  soon  to  arrive." 

Then  Francis  Rotch  and  Captain  Hall  withdrew. 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  a  citizen,  "as  we  have 
obtained  this  promise  from  Mr.  Rotch,  we  have  ac 
complished  all  that  we  set  out  to  do.  He  has  agreed 
to  return  the  tea.  I  move  we  adjourn." 

"  No,  no  !  "  cried  Revere.     "  He  may  lie  to  us  !  " 

"And  even  if  he  tell  the  truth,"  said  another,  "we 
have  others  to  hear  from." 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Samuel  Adams,  "we  have 
heard  from  the  owner  and  the  captain  of  the  ship. 
But  we  have  still  to  hear  from  the  factors  of  the  tea 
that  they  are  willing  to  return  it.  Theirs  is  the  cargo ; 
the  ship  alone  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Rotch.  And 
we  have  still  to  hear  from  the  Governor  that  he 
will  issue  papers  allowing  the  ship  to  clear  without 
discharging  her  cargo.  We  are  not  yet  ready  to 
adjourn." 

"Another  messenger!"  called  a  man  at  the  door. 

"  Let  the  messenger  come  to  the  platform,"  said 
the  Moderator. 


THE    QUAKER    SHIP-OWNER  2/5 

John  recognized  the  man  as  the  servant  who  had 
guarded  him  in  the  little  room  at  Clarke's. 

The  Moderator  received  the  letter,  which  was  sealed. 

"  I  have  no  right  to  open  this  letter,"  said  he.  "  It 
is  not  addressed  to  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting, 
but  to  Mr.  John  Scollay  of  the  Selectmen.  Will  Mr. 
Scollay  kindly  come  forward  and  receive  his  letter  ?  " 

"Another  insult!"  shouted  Crane.  "They  refuse 
to  recognize  this  legal  town  meeting  and  its  duly 
chosen  Moderator!  I  move  that  we  return  the  letter 
unopened ! " 

"  I  second  the  motion  !  "  cried  another  and  another. 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Warren,  "although  the  mean 
ing  of  this  direction  is  plain,  and  it  is  evident  that  it  is 
a  studied  insult  to  this  assembly,  I  suggest  that  we 
waive  that  irregularity  and  hear  the  reading  of  the 
letter.  We  are  struggling  for  a  great  principle,  and 
can  afford  to  set  aside  every  minor  consideration." 

The  view  of  Warren  prevailed. 

Mr.  Scollay,  receiving  the  letter,  advanced  to  the 
platform  and  read  it.  It  was  signed  by  all  the  con 
signees,  and  stated  that  as  the  will  of  the  town  "  can 
be  effected  by  nothing  less  than  our  sending  back  the 
teas,  we  beg  leave  to  say  that  this  is  utterly  out  of 


2/6  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

our  power  to  do,  but  we  now  declare  to  you  our  readi 
ness  to  store  the  teas  until  we  shall  have  an  oppor 
tunity  of  writing  to  our  constituents,  and  shall  receive 
their  further  orders  respecting  them,  and  we  do  most 
sincerely  wish  that  the  Town,  considering  the  unex 
pected  difficulties  devolved  upon  us,  will  be  satisfied 
with  what  we  now  offer." 

"  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Warren,  "  I  desire  to  say  a 
word  about  this  letter.  It  is  most  daringly  affrontive 
to  this  town.  They  will  land  the  teas  and  store  them 
until  they  hear  from  their  constituents,  aye,  and  once 
landed,  what  will  happen  ?  Shall  we  maintain  our 
watch  by  day  and  night  during  the  months  that  must 
elapse  till  they  get  word  from  London,  and  shall  we 
trust  the  nefarious  East  India  Company  or  these  their 
compliant  representatives  ?  I  move  you  that  this  letter 
is  not  in  the  least  satisfactory  to  this  meeting."  And 
the  motion  prevailed. 

"  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Molineux,  "  I  think  that  I  dis 
cover  a  cat  in  this  meal.  I  desire  to  ask  what  are  the 
rules  governing  the  discharge  of  cargoes  in  this  port  ? " 

"  I  will  call  upon  one  of  these  gentlemen  expert 
in  law  to  give  the  information  on  this  point,"  said  the 
Moderator.  "  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  will  you  explain  ?  " 


THE    QUAKER    SHIP-OWNER  2/7 

"According  to  the  laws  that  govern  merchant  ves 
sels,"  said  Mr.  Adams,  "a  ship  has  twenty  days  in 
which  to  enter  at  the  custom  house  and  discharge 
her  cargo.  If  in  that  time  she  fails  to  do  it  and  to 
make  proper  returns  for  the  duty  belonging  to  the 
government,  the  ship  is  to  be  seized  by  the  govern 
ment  and  the  cargo  to  be  landed  by  force  of  the 
civil,  and  if  need  be  the  military,  authorities,  and  dis 
position  to  be  made  of  the  cargo  for  the  payment  of 
the  duty." 

"And  what  is  the  date  on  which  the  government 
will  take  possession  if  this  delay  continues  ? "  asked 
John  Crane. 

"  The  seventeenth  of  December,"  said  Samuel 
Adams. 

"  And  think  you  it  may  be  the  policy  of  these  con 
signees  to  put  us  off  from  day  to  day  until  the  gov 
ernment  itself  takes  possession,  and  our  protest,  if 
we  make  any,  brings  us  in  collision  with  the  soldiers 
and  the  men-at-war  ?  " 

"The  Moderator  is  unable  to  explain  the  conduct 
of  the  consignees,  but  is  of  the  opinion  that  whatever 
this  town  expects  to  do  it  had  better  do  before  the 
military  authorities  come  to  have  rights  in  the  matter." 


2/8  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

"Then  our  last  day,  if  I  understand  the  Moderator, 
will  be  the  sixteenth  of  December  ? " 

"That,"  said  the  Moderator,  "is  the  last  day  in 
which  the  people  may  effect  their  will  without  the 
necessity  of  conflict  with  the  military." 

"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  Paul  Revere,  "we  have 
sixteen  days  in  which  we  may  be  patient.  I  suggest 
to  this  company  that  during  this  time  we  guard  care 
fully  against  any  act  of  lawlessness,  that  we  keep  up 
our  guard,  that  we  keep  up  our  meetings,  that  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  send  out  words  to  other 
towns,  but  that  understanding  as  we  do  now,  —  for  I 
am  willing  to  interpret  their  conduct, — the  policy  of 
the  Governor  and  the  consignees  and  their  deter 
mination  to  compel  us  to  face  the  bayonets  of  the 
redcoats  and  the  guns  of  the  ship  of  war  in  our 
harbor  —  understanding,  I  say,  the  policy  of  our  Gov 
ernor  and  his  relatives,  the  consignees  of  the  tea,  I 
call  upon  you  all  to  remember  that  the  sixteenth 
day  of  December  is  the  last  day,  and  that  we  had 
best  prepare  for  the  crisis  when  that  day  comes." 

The  meeting  soon  after  adjourned,  and  the  men 
stood  about  and  talked.  They  had  accomplished 
nothing,  they  were  likely  to  accomplish  nothing,  they 


THE    QUAKER    SHIP-OWNER  2/9 

doubted  if  anything  could  be  accomplished,  till  the 
twenty  days  elapsed. 

A  day  or  two  later  came  the  Beaver  and  the  brig 
Eleanor,  and  these  dropped  anchor  under  the  guns 
of  the  Castle  till  they  with  the  Dartmouth  were 
brought  alongside  Griffin's  Wharf  and  passed  under 
the  nightly  watch  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  armed  men, 
who  with  musket  and  bayonet  patrolled  the  wharf, 
taking  care  that  no  tea  should  land. 

Meantime  an  arrangement  went  into  effect  between 
Admiral  Montague  and  the  Governor  whereby  a  Brit 
ish  man-of-war  dropped  her  anchor  in  the  channel  to 
prevent  any  ship  going  out  by  stealth. 

These  were  anxious  days  for  Francis  Rotch.  He 
had  promised  to  send  back  the  tea,  but  he  could  not 
get  a  clearance  for  his  vessel;  the  consignees  de 
clared  their  inability  to  send  it  back  until  they  had 
the  Custom  House  certificate  that  the  ship  had  dis 
charged  her  cargo.  The  Custom  House  officers  were 
unable  to  grant  their  certificate  or  give  the  ship  a 
special  clearance  without  permission  from  the  Gov 
ernor,  and  the  Governor,  like  an  animal  at  bay,  stood 
obstinate  and  determined  that  at  this  last  and  impor 
tant  juncture  the  people  should  not  force  his  hand. 


28O  WHEN    BOSTON    BRAVED    THE    KING 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  sent  out  its 
letters  to  all  surrounding  towns,  and  day  by  day 
men  gathered,  representatives  of  other  Committees 
met  with  the  Boston  Committee,  and  thereby  laid 
the  foundation  for  representative  assemblies,  such  as 
eventuated  in  the  Continental  Congress.  Messengers 
came  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  throughout  them 
all  there  was  manifest  a  determination  to  stand  as 
a  unit  against  the  importation  of  the  tea. 

Day  by  day  the  sentiment  of  the  people  grew  more 
determined.  Day  by  day  it  became  plainer  that  the 
real  crisis  was  approaching.  There  were  repeated  meet 
ings  in  the  Old  South,  there  were  repeated  efforts  to 
bring  the  consignees  to  terms,  there  were  repeated  ef 
forts  to  get  a  more  satisfactory  statement  from  Rotch. 

The  young  man  was  disturbed  and  anxious;  he  had 
promised  more  than  he  could  fulfil.  He  seemed  to 
the  meeting  to  be  vacillating,  and  some  declared  that 
he  was  treacherous ;  but  to  those  who  understood  the 
situation  better  he  was  simply  bewildered  and  knew 
not  which  way  to  turn.  Day  by  day  he  met  with 
representatives  of  the  consignees,  who  admonished  him 
to  stand  firm  with  them.  Day  by  day  he  talked  with 
the  people,  who  pleaded,  demanded,  and  threatened  to 
compel  him  to  do  what  he  found  he  had  no  power  to  do. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

THE   WATCH   AT   THE   SHIP 

NIGHT  by  night  there  were  meetings  in  the  Green 
Dragon,  night  by  night  the  long  room  back  of  the 
printing-office  held  its  secret  gatherings.  Night  by 
night  the  windows  of  John  Crane's  carpenter  shop 
were  darkened,  while  the  Southenders  discussed  the 
prospect.  Night  by  night  in  these  three  assemblies 
the  momentous  questions  which  confronted  the  Colony 
were  discussed.  Night  by  night  the  watch  was  main 
tained  at  Griffin's  Wharf. 

The  twenty  days  were  nearing  their  end,  when 
John  Farwell  and  Tom  Lawson,  who  had  long  since 
filed  their  names  at  Edes  &  Gill's  as  applicants  for 
a  place  on  the  guard,  were  appointed  one  night  to 
watch  between  sunset  and  midnight,  and  assigned 
their  place  near  the  head  of  the  wharf,  their  beats 
adjoining. 

Next  John,  on  the  side  toward  the  south,  was  an 

281 


282         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

ardent  patriot,  Simon  Butler,  who  had  fortified  him 
self  too  strongly  at  the  punch  bowl  before  coming 
on  duty. 

The  guards  marched  back  and  forth,  and  every 
^half-hour  called  their  "  All's  well,"  and  were  inspected 
to  find  that  they  were  all  on  duty. 

"This  is  a  good  deal  like  soldiering,  John,"  said 
Tom. 

"  I  should  think  so,"  said  John.  "  Does  your  musket 
get  heavy  ? " 

"A  little.     I  would  hate  to  carry  it  all  day." 

"All  day  would  not  be  much  worse  than  half  the 
night,"  said  John.  "  It  is  quite  a  burden  to  a  shoulder 
after  the  first  hour  or  two." 

"  Do  you  know  the  manual  of  arms  ? " 

"  Not  very  much.  I  know  the  '  Shoulder  arms '  and 
the  '  Carry  arms '  and  '  Present ' ;  but  the  order  that 
interests  me  most  when  I  have  this  steady  pull  at  it, 
is,  '  Right  shoulder  shift,'  and  then  in  fifteen  minutes, 
'  Left  shoulder  shift.'  " 

So  from  time  to  time  during  the  evening,  they 
hailed  each  other,  and  John  avoided  conversation  with 
the  bibulous  Butler,  but  improved  every  meeting  for 
a  word  with  Tom. 


THE  WATCH  AT  THE  SHIP  283 

"This  is  a  lonely  place  after  dark,"    said  Tom. 

"  Yes,"  replied  John,  "  especially  in  the  dark  of  the 
moon.  I  wish  we  might  have  moonlight  at  least. 
There  is  no  one  passing.  What  time  do  you  think 
it  is  ?  Ah,  there  is  the  nine  o'clock  bell,  —  three 
hours  till  midnight.  It  is  a  long  time,  sure  enough." 

"Stay,"  said  Tom,  "there  comes  some  one  now." 

Footsteps  were  heard  approaching  from  the  south, 
and  the  figures  were  dimly  seen  of  a  man  carrying 
a  lantern,  and  a  woman  with  him. 

"Who  comes  there?"  called  Butler. 

"  None  of  your  business,  you  fool !  "  was  the  gruff 
reply. 

"  It's  Mr.  Goodrich,"  said  Tom. 

"I  know  his  voice  well,"  said  John.  "What  fool's 
errand  is  he  on  to-night,  do  you  think?" 

"  I  don't  know,  I  am  sure !  Is  that  Mrs.  Goodrich 
with  him,  think  you  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,"  said  John,  with  an  emphasis  that 
indicated  certainty.  "  It's  Prudence  !  " 

"  You  can't  pass  here !  "  said  Butler,  officiously 
barring  the  way  with  his  bayonet. 

"  Let  us  pass,  you  brute,"  said  Goodrich.  "  Has  it 
come  to  this  that  an  honest  man  may  not  walk  the 


284         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

streets  of  Boston  by  night,  without  being  hailed  by 
the  mob?" 

"You  can't  go  this  way,"  said  Butler,  "anyway!" 

"  Attend  to  your  own  business ! "  said  Goodrich. 
"  Guard  yon  ship,  if  you  will,  but  let  an  honest 
man  have  a  right  to  the  street  at  least." 

"  Butler,"  said  John,  "  we  have  no  right  to  stop 
any  one  save  those  who  would  go  to  the  ships !  " 

"  I  will  stop  any  one  I  please ! "  answered  Butler. 
"  I  am  here  by  the  authority  of  the  Town  Meeting, 
and  I  will  let  no  one  pass." 

"Good  sir,"  said  Prudence,  "let  us  pass!  We 
are  but  going  to  our  home,  and  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  ships." 

"Ah,  yes,  I  will  let  you  pass,  my  pretty  one," 
said  Butler  ;  "  indeed,  I  will,  or  rather  I  won't !  What 
should  you  be  down  here  for  at  this  time  of  night  ? 
Come,  it  is  lonely  walking  this  beat  all  night  alone ! 
Aye,  send  yon  old  man  on  about  his  business,  and 
do  you  walk  with  me  here !  " 

John  felt  the  blood  rising  to  his  temples. 

"We  must  go  and  stop  this,  Tom!"  said  he. 

"Have  we  any  right  to  leave  our  beat?"  asked 
Tom. 


THE    WATCH    AT    THE    SHIP  285 

"  We  must  have !  "  said  John  ;  "  there  is  no  telling 
what  that  drunken  fool  will  do.  Here,  Butler,  let 
them  pass ! " 

But  Butler  did  not  hear.  He  was  deep  in  an  al 
tercation  with  Mr.  Goodrich. 

"  You  villain !  "  cried  Goodrich,  "  what  do  you  mean 
by  insulting  my  daughter  and  me  ?  I  will  break  your 
dirty  neck  for  you ! "  And  he  started  toward  the 
sentinel. 

"  You  will,  will  you  ?  Just  wait  till  I  set  down  my 
gun  and  I  will  thrash  you  within  an  inch  of  your 
life !  But  hold  on,  what  is  the  use  of  having  a  gun 
if  you  don't  use  it  ?  You  want  to  fight,  do  you  ? 
Well,  come  on  !  " 

John  and  Tom  heard  the  click  of  the  gun  as  Butler 
raised  the  hammer. 

Goodrich  paused  a  moment  in  sudden  fear. 

"  You  want  to  fight,  do  you  ?  Come  on  !  "  Butler 
repeated,  and  raised  the  flint  to  the  full  cock. 

"You  lousy  villain!"  said  Goodrich,  "do  you  mean 
to  murder  me  ?  You  disreputable  skunk !  Shoot,  if 
you  dare  !  " 

The  harsh  names  in  no  wise  served  to  mollify  the 
angry  Butler.  One  or  two  sentinels  came  from  the 


286         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

other  way,  but  were  powerless  to  interpose,  as  they 
stood  facing  him  and  his  gun. 

"  You  call  me  names,  do  you  ?  I  will  show  you 
what  I  dare  to  do !  You  are  an  enemy,  an  enemy 
to  the  public,  and  it  is  time  you  were  made  an  example 
of !  "  And  he  slowly  raised  his  gun. 

Just  at  that  moment  John  seized  the  gun  from  be 
hind  and  threw  the  muzzle  upward,  while  Tom  flung 
himself  with  all  his  might  on  top  of  the  drunken  fel 
low  and  threw  him  to  the  ground.  The  gun  went  off, 
and  the  ball  went  whizzing  over  Fort  Hill,  and  the 
struggling,  drunken  sentinel  was  taken  in  charge  by 
his  companions. 

The  captain  of  the  watch  appeared  at  the  sound 
of  the  gun,  removed  Butler  from  his  post  and  sent 
him  off  under  guard,  and  placed  another  sentinel 
upon  his  beat. 

"  You  did  well,"  said  he  to  the  boys.  "  You  not 
only  have  saved  a  man's  life,  but  have  saved  the 
cause  the  infamy  which  would  surely  have  come  upon 
it,  had  an  unoffending  citizen  been  murdered  by  this 
guard.  And  you,  sir,"  continued  Captain  Cheever 
to  Mr.  Goodrich,  "  I  apologize  to  you  for  the  mis 
conduct  of  this  sentinel.  I  am  sorry  you  did  not 


THE  WATCH  AT  THE  SHIP  28/ 

answer  him  with  a  little  more  civility,  but  that  is 
nothing  of  which  I  care  now  to  speak.  You  have 
been  wronged,  sir,  and  I  deeply  regret  it,  and  now 
to  save  you  the  possibility  of  any  further  annoyance, 
I  will  detail  these  two  sentinels  who  have  served  you 
so  good  a  turn  to  escort  you  and  your  daughter  to 
your  home." 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Goodrich.  "  You  at 
least  are  a  gentleman ;  I  fear  no  danger,  but  my 
daughter  is  somewhat  agitated,  and  I  gladly  avail 
myself  of  your  courtesy  and  accept  the  escort  you 
offer.  Besides,  I  would  with  pleasure  meet  these  men 
and  thank  them  for  the  kindness  which  they  have 
shown  my  daughter  and  myself." 

Captain  Cheever  turned  to  the  young  men. 

"  Escort  this  lady  and  gentleman  to  their  home. 
It  is  on  Ann  Street,  I  believe.  Yes,  Ann  Street;  and 
when  you  return,  report  to  me  and  be  dismissed  for 
the  night.  You  have  done  your  duty  well.  These 
are  the  two  young  men.  Their  names  are  —  " 

"  I  think  we  know  their  names ! "  said  Prudence. 
"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Farwell !  good  evening,  Tom ! 
Father,  you  have  met  these  young  men  before." 

Mr.  Goodrich    stammered  for  a  moment,  and    then 


288         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

said,  "  Young  men,  I  thank  you  !  Whatever  I  might 
have  had  in  my  mind  to  say  had  we  met  under 
other  circumstances,  for  to-night  at  least  I  am  your 
debtor.  Prudence,  we  will  go  home,  and  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  these  young  men  if  they  will  accom 
pany  us." 

So  Tom  fell  in  beside  Mr.  Goodrich  and  John 
walked  side  by  side  with  Prudence,  his  musket  on 
his  shoulder  and  his  heart  beating  fast. 

"We  have  been  making  a  call  on  Summer  Street 
and  stayed  rather  late,"  said  Prudence,  "  and  I 
thank  you  so  much  for  your  kindness  !  " 

At  the  gate  they  presented  arms  in  a  manner 
which  an  officer  might  have  criticised,  but  which 
Prudence  thought  quite  effective,  and  lifted  their  hats 
and  said  good  night. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

THE   MOHAWKS   AND   THEIR   ALLIES 

NINETEEN  anxious  days  followed  the  arrival  of  the 
tea-ships.  The  consignees,  fearing  the  people,  with 
drew  to  the  Castle  William,1  and  placed  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  the  soldiers.  Governor  Hutch- 
inson,  fearing  for  his  own  safety,  and  to  guard  him 
self  against  the  possibility  of  being  forced  into  a 
concession,  kept  himself  in  his  country  home  in  Milton. 

It  was  evident  now  that  the  consignees  and  the 
Governor  were  determined  to  fight  the  issue  to  the 
end.  No  longer  was  there  any  doubt  of  their  real 
purpose  to  stand  out  for  the  twenty  days  and  thus 
compel  the  two  ships  of  war,  the  Active  and  the 
Kingfisher,  that  had  moved  up  ominously  near  the 
town,  to  take  possession  of  the  tea-ships  and  land 
their  cargoes  under  protection  of  their  guns. 

1  Castle  William,  now  Fort  Independence,  on  Castle  Island,  in  Boston 
Harbor. 

u  289 


29O         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

So  came  the  great  and  decisive  day,  Thursday,  the 
sixteenth  of  December. 

People  came  in  multitudes  from  the  country.  Five 
thousand  men,  unable  to  gain  admission  to  the  Old 
South,  filled  the  streets  and  alley-ways  adjacent. 
There  was  a  morning  session  and  another  parley 
with  Rotch,  who,  anxious  and  troubled,  excused  him 
self  for  not  sailing.  He  could  not  fulfil  his  promise, 
he  said,  because  Admiral  Montague,  who  commanded 
the  warships,  blocked  the  way,  and  Governor  Hutch- 
inson,  who  gave  the  orders  to  Montague,  and  who 
alone  could  give  a  pass  to  the  ship,  would  not  per 
mit  him  to  sail  until  he  had  discharged  the  cargo. 

The  meeting  demanded  of  Rotch  whether  he  was 
sincere  in  his  declaration  of  willingness  to  return  the 
tea  if  the  Governor  would  permit.  Rotch  declared 
his  entire  willingness.  There  was  evidently  nothing 
more  to  be  done  with  Rotch  except  to  use  him  to 
secure  a  pass  from  Hutchinson. 

The  meeting  sent  a  messenger  to  the  Governor  to 
demand  again  that  he  should  give  to  Rotch  a  pass. 

There  was  an  afternoon  session,  and  again  there 
was  a  conference  with  Rotch.  The  Governor  had 
refused  his  permission,  and  Rotch,  already  wearied 


THE  MOHAWKS  AND  THEIR  ALLIES        2QI 

to  the  point  of  exhaustion,  was  mounted  upon  a  horse 
and  sent  himself  to  Milton  to  plead  with  the  Gov 
ernor  for  a  pass. 

Again  the  meeting  went  over  the  whole  ground 
that  now  had  grown  so  familiar  in  their  resolutions. 
Again  they  declared  that  they  would  not  use  tea. 
Again  they  affirmed  without  any  dissenting  voice  that 
the  tea  should  not  land. 

Thus  the  afternoon  wore  away,  and  the  faces  in 
the  Old  South  grew  dim  in  the  gathering  dusk. 
There  was  a  little  stir  in  the  company  about  this 
time,  and  John  and  Tom,  who  sat  together  in  the 
gallery,  saw  that  one  and  another  of  the  men  they 
knew  were  departing. 

"  Look  !  "  said  John,  "  my  master  Crane  is  leaving  !  " 

"  Aye,"  said  Tom,  "  and  there  goes  Edes  yonder, 
and  Paul  Revere ;  and  see  off  yonder  are  Captain 
Mackintosh  and  the  Bradlees,  and  they  are  making 
toward  the  door !  " 

"  Where  are  they  going,  think  you  ? " 

"  I  have  a  thought !  "  said  Tom.  "  Let  us  get  out 
of  here,  and  I  will  tell  you." 

With  difficulty  the  boys  made  their  way  downstairs 
and  out  in  the  vestibule.  It  was  about  as  hard  to 


2Q2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

make  their  way  through  the  crowd  outside,  but  they 
could  not  fail  to  see  that  a  number  of  the  more 
active  leaders  in  the  affair  were  getting  out  also. 

"The  crowd  does  not  suspect,"  said  Tom. 

"  No,"  said  John ;  "  those  who  are  leaving  are  few 
in  number  compared  to  those  who  stay.  Adams  and 
the  rest  are  there,  and  the  meeting  is  still  in  session." 

"  Come,  let  us  get  out  of  the  crowd,  and  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  think !  " 

"Which  way  shall  we  go?"  asked  John.  "To  the 
print-shop  ?  " 

"  No ;  we  shall  find  it  occupied,  I  make  no  doubt. 
Let  us  go  to  the  Common  and  walk  along.  Could  we 
be  alone  at  the  Cranes'  ? "  asked  Tom. 

"  Yes,  in  my  room,"  said  John  ;  "  for  Crane  and  his 
friends  meet,  if  they  meet  anywhere,  in  the  carpenter 
shop  with  curtains  at  the  windows." 

"  Now,"  said  Tom,  "  let  me  tell  you !  What  has 
Master  Crane  been  doing  these  last  days  ?  " 

"  Holding  secret  meetings  in  the  carpenter  shop 
when  not  asleep  or  at  the  town  meetings,  and  he 
sleeps  but  little,  I  am  thinking !  " 

"The  same  at  the  print-shop,"  said  Tom.  "But 
let  me  tell  you,  they  called  me  to  the  door  last  night 


THE  MOHAWKS  AND  THEIR  ALLIES        2Q3 

to  put  in  type  something  they  had  written.  Young 
Edes  and  I  were  there,  and  we  worked  the  press  to 
gether.  But  that  is  neither  here  nor  there ;  when  I 
went  to  the  door  to  get  the  copy,  I  had  a  little  glance 
within,  and  what  think  you  I  saw  ?  An  Indian's 
headdress,  as  I  live !  " 

"  What  make  you  of  that  ? "  asked  John. 

"  You  will  know  soon,  I  am  thinking  !  There  were 
blankets,  too,  and  feathers  and  paint-pots  in  the  room  ! 
Can  you  not  put  this  and  that  together  ? " 

"You  mean  that  they  intend  to  disguise?"  asked 
John. 

"  And  why  not  ?  Something  must  be  done,  and 
done  this  night;  and  if  it  should  be  done  by  men 
whose  names  are  unknown,  it  would  be  better  than 
that  John  Crane  or  Benjamin  Edes  or  Paul  Revere 
should  go  to  jail." 

"That  reminds  me,"  said  John,  "that  we  have  been 
having  chicken  every  day  on  the  table  this  past  week, 
and  I  wondered  why  Crane  told  Judy  to  save  him  all 
the  tail  feathers!" 

"Aha,"  said  Tom,  "they  are  at  it  too!  Look  you, 
John,  we  will  have  a  hand  in  this  too.  Let  us  get 
Will  Sewall  and  George  Cook ! " 


2Q4         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"They  will  not  let  us  in!"  said  John. 

"  Let  us!"  said  Tom;  "they  can't  help  themselves, 
can  they  ?  How  shall  they  know  us  from  themselves  ? 
Of  course  they  will  not  let  us  if  they  know  it,  but 
one  Indian  is  as  good  as  another  Indian,  and  if  you 
and  I  and  Will  and  George  can  get  some  feathers  and 
red  paint,  who  shall  know  then  that  we  are  not  John 
Crane  and  Benjamin  Edes  and  Paul  Revere  and 
Captain  Molineux !  Come,  I  know  where  we  shall 
find  those  fellows,  or  if  we  do  not,  we  shall  not  wait 
for  them.  Will's  house  is  near  at  hand,  and  like  as 
not  we  will  find  them  there." 

A  call  at  Will  Sewall's  door  proved  the  correctness 
of  Tom's  surmise,  and  soon  the  four  boys  were  scurry 
ing  down  Common  Street  toward  John  Crane's. 

"  Has  Master  Crane  returned  ? "  asked  John  of 
Mrs.  Crane. 

"  Yes,  and  the  Bradlees  with  him,  and  Bolter  and 
Gammel,  and  I  know  not  how  many  more ;  they  have 
gone  to  the  carpenter  shop.  And  will  you  boys  be 
holding  a  secret  meeting  s.omewhere?" 

"We  want  to,"  said  John.  "Oh,  Mrs.  Crane,  can 
you  not  help  us  just  a  little?  and  you,  Judy?  There 
will  be  some  fun  to-night,  and  we  want  a  hand  in  it. 


THE  MOHAWKS  AND  THEIR  ALLIES 

Judy,  have  you  not  been  saving  feathers  for  Master 
Crane  ? " 

"  La,  yes,  chile ;  I  give  him  all  de  tail  feddahs  ub 
all  de  chickens  we  'av'  been  habbin'  dis  las'  week." 

"Have  you  any  of  them  left?" 

"No,"  said  Judy,  "o'ny  the  breas'  feddahs,  and  dem 
I  saved  for  pillows." 

"  They  won't  do ;  we  want  some  tail  feathers ! " 

"  Look  here,  honey,  I  ain't  got  no  chicken  feddahs, 
but  I  got  dem  tu'key  wings  I  use  to  sweep  up  the 
hearth.  I  reckon,  I  might  let  you  hab  dem.  If 
we  gwine  t'  hab  tu'key  at  Christmas  time,  I  can 
git  some  more." 

"  Now,  boys,"  said  Mrs.  Crane,  "  we  are  just  as 
curious  as  you  are,  and  know  as  little  what  the  men 
are  doing.  If  you  know  what  they  are  doing,  tell 
us,  and  we  can  keep  a  secret  as  well  as  they." 

"We  will  tell  you  all  we  know,  Mrs.  Crane.  Will 
you  help  us  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,  I  will !  Tell  us  all  you  know !  "  she 
answered. 

"We  find,"  said  John,  "that  the  men  have  been 
gathering  Indian  disguises  here  and  at  the  long  room, 
and  we  suspect  also  at  the  Green  Dragon,  and  now 


296         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

we  think  they  are  going  to  board  the  ships  and  do 
something  with  the  tea.  We  do  not  know  what,  but 
whatever  they  do,  we  want  a  share  in  it !  " 

"And  we  have  been  thinking,"  said  Tom,  "that  if 
we  disguise  ourselves  the  same  as  the  men  do  they 
will  not  recognize  us." 

"Good!"  said  Mrs.  Crane;  "and  we  will  have  a 
secret  all  to  ourselves,  and  see  if  we  can  keep  it  till 
they  tell  us.  Judy,  pull  out  those  feathers ;  or  no,  let 
the  boys  do  that.  John,  run  to  the  garret  and  bring 
some  of  those  unshucked  walnuts,  and  we  will  make 
you  all  a  lovely  copper  color.  I  really  cannot  let  you 
have  my  blankets,  but  you  can  turn  your  coats  inside 
out,  and  you  will  do  well  enough.  It  will  be  dark, 
and  the  men  will  look  only  at  your  faces.  Now  I 
will  tear  up  this  strip  of  cotton  cloth,  and  fit  that  to 
your  heads  and  stitch  the  feathers  in.  Come,  Judy, 

X 

help  me ;  it  is  growing  dark !  " 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Crane ! "  cried 
the  boys. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  we  thank  you,"  said 
John.  "I  knew  you  would  help  us!" 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

BOSTON  HARBOR  AS  A  TEAPOT 

DARKNESS  fell  early  on  that  short  December  day, 
and  the  shadows  grew  deeper  in  the  Old  South  Meet 
ing-house.  The  crowd  grew  visibly  impatient,  and  it 
was  difficult  to  keep  in  order.  Speeches  had  been 
made,  some  temperate  and  some  vehement,  and  at 
length  the  crowd  grew  weary  of  delay.  It  was  agreed 
to  wait  till  five  o'clock,  and  the  crowd  impatiently 
watched  the  hands  of  the  clock  as  they  slowly  moved 
toward  that  hour. 

"  What  is  the  use  of  staying  here  ? "  asked  some 
one.  "The  Governor  will  not  give  permission,  and 
Rotch  will  not  dare  to  return.  Let  us  adjourn  and 
do  what  we  do  speedily." 

"  Yes,  yes !  "  called  voices  from  the  floor ;  "  we  have 
waited  here  for  nineteen  days." 

"  I  move  that  we  adjourn ! "  called  another. 

"  I  second  the  motion  !  "  shouted  many  more. 

297 


298         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

Samuel  Adams  was  in  the  chair. 

"  It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  we  now  adjourn. 
The  motion  is  not  debatable,  but  it  is  my  judgment 
that  we  had  better  wait  another  hour." 

The  motion  to  adjourn  was  carried,  and  some  act 
of  violence  was  about  to  be  committed,  but  several 
temperate  men  secured  the  floor,  and  pleaded  with 
the  company  to  come  to  order  again  and  wait  another 
hour. 

Candles  were  sent  for  and  brought  in,  and  the 
crowd  reluctantly  seated  itself  to  wait  another  hour. 
The  crowd  was  in  no  temper  for  speeches,  and  no 
one  was  in  the  mood  to  be  eloquent. 

"What  shall  we  do,"  asked  some  one,  "if  Rotch 
brings  back,  as  he  surely  will,  a  refusal  from  the 
Governor? " 

John  Rowe  called  out,  "Who  knows  how  tea  will 
mingle  with  salt  water  ?  " 

There  was  a  hearty  laugh  and  a  round  of  vigorous 
applause,  and  then  the  crowd  grew  silent  again  and 
impatiently  waited. 

"  Mr.  Moderator,"  said  one  man,  "  we  might  as  well 
face  the  issue  which  we  have  allowed  ourselves  so 
long  to  evade.  There  is  but  one  answer  that  will 


BOSTON    HARBOR    AS    A    TEAPOT  299 

come  from  the  Governor,  if  any  comes.  Nay,  I  am 
confident  that  we  will  have  no  answer.  Yon  whim 
pering,  double-dealing  Quaker  dares  not  come  back 
to  us  with  the  only  answer  the  Governor  will  give, 
and  yet  we  have  no  policy,  we  have  made  no  decision 
what  we  shall  do.  It  seems  to  me  the  time  has  come 
not  for  words,  but  for  actions." 

"And  I  move,  Mr.  Moderator  —  "  said  another  man. 

"  I  suggest,  if  the  gentleman  will  allow  me,"  inter 
rupted  another,  "that  it  may  be  well  for  us  not  to 
put  upon  the  records  of  this  meeting  what  we  shall 
do.  We  are  about  to  be  confronted  by  a  desperate 
alternative,  and  it  may  be  well  that  the  thing  which 
we  are  about  to  do  should  be  one  that  does  not  go  on 
the  records  of  this  meeting.  Let  us  wait  till  six,  and 
then  adjourn." 

There  was  nothing  to  do  but  wait.  The  crowd 
thought  it  a  supererogation  of  virtue  to  wait  that  hour. 
The  time  was  long  for  them,  but  it  was  short  enough 
for  the  perplexed  representative  of  the  owners  of  the 
tea-ships  then  riding  wearily  back  from  Milton. 

The  Revolution  had  been  advancing  with  long, 
though  imperceptible  strides  in  these  nineteen  days. 
The  Gazette  had  plainly  said  that  the  matter  at  issue 


3OO         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

was  likely  to  involve  what  it  called  a  "brush"  with 
the  British,  to  which,  it  asserted,  the  Americans  were 
willing  to  appeal.  In  another  number  it  had  ventured 
the  prophetic  prediction  that  the  final  issue  of  the 
struggle  over  the  tea  would  be  an  escape  from  the 
tyranny  of  England  and  the  founding  of  an  Ameri 
can  Commonwealth. 

During  those  days  in  which  nothing  seemed  to  be 
accomplished  the  spirit  of  Independence  was  moving 
rapidly  on,  and  it  never  came  faster  than  when  in  the 
twilight  of  the  sixteenth  of  December  it  outran  the 
panting  horse  of  Francis  Rotch  and  arrived  before 
him  in  the  porch  of  the  Old  South. 

The  crowd  still  was  thick  about  the  door,  and  it 
seemed  to  grow  larger  and  more  compact. 

And  now  as  the  darkness  fell,  men  in  strange  garb 
forced  their  way  through  alleys  and  unfamiliar  paths 
and  took  their  station  near  the  church. 

Slowly  the  clock  dragged  its  hands  along  the  dial. 
Half-past  five,  and  the  church  was  dark  save  for  the 
light  of  the  candles.  A  quarter  of  six,  and  the  hour 
had  nearly  gone.  Fifteen  minutes  more,  and  then 
what  would  be  done  ?  For  Francis  Rotch  had  clearly 
abandoned  all  thought  of  coming  back  to  them, 


BOSTON    HARBOR    AS    A    TEAPOT  3OI 

afraid,  no  doubt,  to  reenter  that  turbulent  assembly. 
Ten  minutes  of  six,  and  men  began  to  reach  for  their 
hats  and  hold  them  restlessly  between  their  thumbs, 
waiting  for  the  signal  to  leave.  There  was  a  general 
air  of  preparation  for  movement,  when  the  hands  of 
the  clock  now  so  rapidly  nearing  the  hour  should 
point  to  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  waiting,  and 
the  bell  should  strike  the  arrival  of  a  new  crisis. 

At  last,  just  before  the  clock  struck  six,  Rotch 
entered  the  door,  and  in  the  dim  light  of  the  candle 
stood  before  Samuel  Adams. 

"  Mr.  Rotch,  we  have  waited  long  for  you,"  said 
the  Moderator.  "Have  you  brought  an  answer  from 
the  Governor  ? " 

"  I  have,  sir,"  said  Rotch,  sadly,  "  and  the  Governor 
refuses  permission  for  the  ship  to  clear.  I  have  done 
all  that  I  can  do,  and  this  must  be  my  last  answer  to 
this  meeting." 

There  was  an  indignant  protest  from  the  meeting, 
but  this  was  hushed  in  expectant  silence,  as  Samuel 
Adams  uplifted  his  face  from  that  of  Rotch,  and 
looked  about  over  the  assembly.  A  moment  he  stood 
in  silence.  The  clock  gave  its  warning,  and  then 
struck  six.  Then  Adams  spoke.  With  impressive 


3O2         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

and  laconic  eloquence  he  uttered  the  simple  sen 
tence  :  — 

"  This  meeting  can  do  nothing  more  to  save  its 
country !  "  and  with  that  word  the  gavel  fell. 

It  seemed  to  wake  an  echo  that  reverberated  from 
wall  to  wall  throughout  the  historic  old  meeting-house. 
It  was  an  ominous  and  portentous  sound,  and  for  a 
moment  there  was  no  response,  but  only  dread  silence. 

But  the  falling  gavel  awoke  an  echo  outside  the 
building  and  a  louder  one  than  ever  heard  within. 
There  was  a  wild,  whirring  whoop  that  reminded  the 
Colonists  of  the  blood-curdling  tales  of  childhood  when 
frontier  communities  awoke  from  their  sleep  to  hear 
the  awful  warwhoop  of  the  savage. 

The  great  throng  surged  against  the  doors,  and 
fast  as  it  could  escape,  made  its  way  into  the  open 
air.  The  crowd  that  had  thronged  about  the  old 
church  was  all  moving,  and  moving  in  a  solid  mass 
down  Milk  Street.  From  the  head  of  the  procession 
came  whoop  after  whoop,  and  by  the  light  of  torches 
upheld,  one  caught  a  glimpse  of  war-bonnet  and 
tawny  faces  streaked  with  black  and  red.  From  the 
long  room,  from  the  Green  Dragon,  and  from  the 
carpenter  shop  there  had  come  this  band  of  Mohawks 


BOSTON    HARBOR    AS    A    TEAPOT  303 

in    war-paint    and    feathers,    like    the    ghost    of    their 
copper-colored  ancestors. 

"  On  —  on  to  where  the  tea-ships  ride  ! 

And  now  their  ranks  are  forming  — 
A  rush  and  up  the  Dartmouth^  side 
The  Mohawk  band  is  swarming ! 

"  See  the  fierce  natives  !  what  a  glimpse 

Of  paint  and  fur  and  feather, 
As  all  at  once  the  full-grown  imps 
Light  on  the  deck  together  ! 

"A  scarf  the  pig-tail's  secret  keeps, 

A  blanket  hides  the  breeches, — 
And  out  the  cursed  cargo  leaps, 
And  overboard  it  pitches  ! 

"  No  !   Ne'er  was  mingled  such  a  draught 

In  palace,  hall,  or  arbor 
As  freemen  brewed  and  tyrants  quaffed 
That  night  in  Boston  Harbor ! " 

"  That  is  Paul  Revere,"  whispered  Tom.  "  I  know 
him  even  in  his  war-paint.  Do  you  know  any  of  the 
others  ? " 

"  Not  a  soul,"  said  John ;  "  they  are  all  Indians  to 
me !  Hurry  up,  Will !  Come  along,  George ;  let  us 
keep  at  the  head  as  near  as  we  may !  " 


3O4         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

And  so  the  boys  were  hard  behind  the  leaders  and 
among  the  first  to  board  the  Dartmouth. 

"A  windlass,  here!  Break  open  the  padlock! 
Captain  Hall,  keep  yourself  and  your  men  below 
deck;  this  is  no  affair  of  yours,"  said  the  leader;  and 
the  captain  and  his  men  prudently  went  below,  say 
ing  only  as  his  head  disappeared  below  the  hatch 
way,  "  Do  no  harm  to  the  ship,  gentlemen,  whatever 
you  do  to  the  cargo!" 

"Have  no  fear,"  said  the  leader.  "We  will  damage 
nothing,  and  we  will  send  you  a  new  padlock  for  the 
one  we  have  broken." 

The  Mohawks  were  as  good  as  their  word,  and 
the  next  morning  a  fine  new  padlock  was  sent  to 
Captain  Hall  to  replace  the  only  damage  done  to  the 
ships. 

Men  who  do  historic  deeds  are  not  always  aware 
of  their  significance,  but  the  importance  of  the  Tea- 
Party  was  felt  at  the  time,  both  by  friends  and  ene 
mies  of  the  nation  soon  to  be  born. 

The  Tea-Party  had  far  more  than  a  local  signifi 
cance.  It  was  not  simply  the  ebullition  of  local 
sentiment  in  a  single  town ;  it  was  an  expression  in 
the  concrete  of  a  deep-seated  and  ever  growing  con- 


BOSTON    HARBOR    AS    A    TEAPOT  30$ 

viction    on    the    part    of    the    United    Colonies    as    a 
whole. 

Unlike  the  Hutchinsons  and  Clarkes,  the  admiral, 
Montague,  had  not  left  the  town,  but  spent  the  even 
ing  in  a  house  near  the  water,  and  was  able  to  see, 
as  he  sat  in  the  window,  the  procession  of  the  Mo 
hawks.  He  made  no  effort  to  interfere,  —  that  would 
have  been  quite  useless,  —  but  he  attempted  a  bit  of 
grim  humor  as  the  Mohawks  marched  back  from  the 
scene  of  their  frolic.  Throwing  up  the  window,  he 
thrust  out  his  head,  and  cried :  — 

"  Well,  boys !  You've  had  a  fine  night  for  your 
Indian  caper,  but  mind,  you've  got  to  pay  the  fiddler, 
yet !  " 

"  We'll  settle  that  bill !  "  replied  the  crowd.  "Come 
out  if  you  like,  Admiral,  and  we'll  pay  it  now ! " 

It  was  a  jolly  and  only  half -meant  threat,  for  the 
crowd  had  little  thought  of  doing  violence  to  any 
one.  Indeed,  having  done  what  it  intended,  it  re 
turned  quietly  to  the  homes  of  its  members,  and  the 
town  spent  its  first  quiet  night  for  weeks.  Unlike 
the  outbreak  which  came  with  the  Stamp  Act,  this 
brought  with  it  no  deed  which  later  shamed  the 
town.  There  was  little,  if  any,  drunkenness  in  the 
x 


3O6         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

party,  and  the  ambition  of  the  crowd  spent  itself  in 
its  assault  upon  the  tea,  and  wept  not  for  other  worlds 
to  conquer. 

The  effect  of  the  event  was  electrical.  The  whole 
Province  was  thrilled  by  it.  Other  Colonies  rejoiced. 
The  tea  sent  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  soon 
after,  while  not  thrown  overboard,  was  landed  under 
guard,  stored  in  damp  cellars,  and  prevented  from 
being  used  until  it  spoiled.  The  effort  to  force  one 
Province  to  use  tea  resulted  in  the  united  refusal  of 
all  to  touch  it. 

The  Public  Library  of  Boston  has  an  autograph 
letter  from  Thomas  Gushing,  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  Boston,  to  Arthur  Lee,  Esq.,  of 
London.  He  says  of  the  measures  of  Parliament 
and  the  result  thus  far,  "  Administration  could  not 
have  hit  upon  a  method  more  effectual  for  raising 
the  spirit  of  the  Colonies,  or  promoting  among  them 
an  entire  harmony  of  sentiment.  They  were  never 
more  firmly  united  than  at  this  juncture,  and  if 
Administration  should  determine  upon  coercive  meas 
ures,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  say  what  would  be 
the  consequences." 

The    morning    after    the    Tea-Party,    John    Adams 


BOSTON    HARBOR    AS    A    TEAPOT  3O/ 

wrote  in  his  diary,  "  Last  night  three  cargoes  of 
Bohea  Tea  were  emptied  into  the  Sea.  This  Morn 
ing  a  Man  of  War  sails.  This  is  the  most  magnifi 
cent  Movement  of  all.  There  was  a  Dignity,  a 
Majesty,  a  Sublimity  in  this  last  Effort  of  the  Patri 
ots  that  I  greatly  admire.  The  People  should  never 
rise  without  doing  something  to  be  remembered  — 
something  notable  &  striking.  This  Destruction  of 
the  Tea  is  so  bold,  so  daring,  so  firm,  so  intrepid, 
&  inflexible,  and  it  must  have  so  important  Conse 
quences  and  so  lasting,  that  I  cannot  but  consider  it 
as  an  Epocha  in  History." 

It  is  not  often  that  a  great  historic  event  has  at 
the  time  so  prescient  an  interpretation.  The  conse 
quences  were  all  that  Adams  anticipated  and  more. 
The  Boston  Port  Bill  followed,  but  the  growing  unity 
of  Colonial  sentiment  made  this  but  another  oppor 
tunity  of  binding  the  towns  of  the  Commonwealth 
and  the  several  Colonies  more  closely  together. 
Salem  offered  the  merchants  of  Boston  the  use  of 
her  wharves,  and  other  commercial  rivals  refused  to 
profit  by  the  vicarious  suffering  of  Boston  for  the  patri 
otism  of  the  whole  embryo  nation.  More  closely  knit 
together  became  all  Colonial  interests,  and  deeper  grew 


3O8         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

the  conviction  that  only  by  uniting  in  protest  against 
the  aggressions  of  England,  might  the  Colonists 
secure  the  liberty  for  which  their  fathers  had  come 
to  these  shores.  Slowly,  but  surely,  out  of  the  cloud 
of  these  struggles,  whose  meaning  then  few  could 
have  predicted,  rose  the  star  of  a  new  nation.  John 
Adams  was  right,  and  the  daring  deed  of  the  Boston 
Mohawks  formed  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Amer 
ica  and  the  world 


CHAPTER  XXV 

HOW  JOHN   PROVED    HIMSELF   FAITHFUL 

IT  was  low  tide  when  the  Mohawks  arrived  at 
the  ships,  and  as  they  lay  at  the  dock  their  keels 
were  grounded  in  the  mud.  Word  was  soon  passed 
among  the  Mohawks  to  pitch  out  the  tea  upon  the 
seaward  side,  and  be  careful  that  the  boxes  should  be 
thoroughly  broken  up  and  the  tea  thoroughly  emptied 
out  before  the  boxes  themselves  were  thrown  overboard. 

It  was  a  merry  company  that  worked,  some  in  the 
hold  and  some  at  the  scuttles  and  others  at  the  rail, 
and  some  with  ropes  and  cranes  pulling  up  the  chests 
from  the  bowels  of  the  ship,  others  smashing  in  the 
boxes  with  hatchets,  and  others  bearing  them  to  the  side, 
where  the  tea  began  to  mingle  with  the  salt  water. 

Dr.    Holmes   has   told   us   that 

"  The  waters  in  the  rebel  bay 
Have  kept  the  tea-leaf  savor. 
Our  old  Northerners  in  their  spray 
Still  taste  a  Hyson  flavor." 

309 


3IO         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

But  none  tasted  of  the  tea  that  night.  One  little 
vial  of  it  remains  which  Thomas  Melville  shook  next 
morning  out  of  his  shoes.  But  those  who  attempted 
to  secure  any  were  roughly  handled  by  the  crowd. 

"  Stop  that  fellow !  "  cried  Will  Sewall  to  some  one, 
just  as  a  lad  was  seen  bearing  off  a  half  a  chest  of  tea 
that  had  not  been  carefully  emptied  and  had  floated 
toward  the  shore.  The  boy  dropped  the  chest  and 
ran,  but  the  crowd  caught  him,  soundly  boxed  his 
ears,  stood  him  on  his  head  in  pretence  of  emptying 
the  tea  which  they  thought  he  might  have  secured 
in  his  pockets,  and  let  him  go  with  a  warning  to  drink 
cold  water  as  being  less  dangerous  to  the  nerves.  It 
was  too  dark  for  the  boys  to  see  his  face,  but  in  the 
pleading  voice  that  besought  the  men  to  let  him  go 
they  recognized  Job  Morris. 

Just  at  this  moment  there  came  a  crash,  and  a  crane 
insecurely  fastened  above  the  hold  suddenly  fell  to 
the  deck,  knocking  over,  as  it  fell,  one  stalwart 
man  engaged  at  that  moment  in  lifting  a  chest  of 
tea  from  the  hold.  The  workers  paused  a  moment, 
then  lifted  off  the  heavy  spar  and  tried  to  help  him 
to  his  feet. 

"  Stand  back,"  said  one,  "  and  give  him  air." 


HOW    JOHN    PROVED    HIMSELF    FAITHFUL  31 1 

"Poor  fellow,"  said  another;  "it  is  all  up  with 
him !  " 

Full  five  minutes  they  stood  about,  two  or  three  of 
the  leaders  kneeling  beside  the  prostrate  man. 

"  He  is  dead,"  they  said  at  length.  "  Alas,  poor 
fellow!  Bear  his  body  ashore."  "Make  way  there, 
till  we  bring  him  to  land !  "  said  Paul  Revere. 

Four  strong  men  lifted  him  tenderly  and  carried 
him  over  the  side.  As  they  did  so,  his  headdress 
fell  off,  his  face  showed  pale  and  bloodless  through 
its  paint,  and  John,  with  a  cry  of  sorrow,  sprang  to 
the  rail  and  rushed  ashore,  with  Tom  hard  after  him. 

"Take  him  to  this  carpenter  shop,"  said  one  who 
bore  him,  "  and  hide  the  body  in  the  shavings  there 
till  we  are  through,  and  we  will  bear  it  home." 

Into  the  shop  they  bore  the  lifeless  form,  and,  cover 
ing  it  with  shavings,  the  four  who  carried  it  went  back 
to  their  work,  but  John  and  Tom  entered  and  fell  upon 
their  knees  beside  him. 

"  My  master !  my  master  !  "  cried  John.  "  No  braver 
man  ever  fell  upon  the  battlefield !  To  think  that 
you  should  die  thus,  and  die  without  ever  learning 
that  I  had  not  earned  your  distrust !  Go,  Tom,"  he 
said,  "  and  find  a  carriage,  that  we  may  take  him 


312         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

home ;  but,  oh,  how  shall  I  tell  his  wife,  and  with 
what  words  shall  I  comfort  her !  " 

John  clung  to  his  master's  hand,  the  tears  the 
while  streaming  down  his  face.  He  took  off  his 
coat  and  threw  it  over  the  prostrate  form.  He 
then  began  to  chafe  the  hands,  first  one  and  then 
another,  trying  to  rub  the  life  into  them.  It  seemed 
a  hopeless  task,  yet  still  for  love's  sake,  he  rubbed 
the  hands  and  busied  himself  in  tearful  effort  to  bring 
life  back  into  the  body  of  his  master. 

It  seemed  as  if  it  must  have  been  near  morning 
when  Tom  returned,  but  only  an  hour  had  gone.  An 
awful  hour  it  was  with  John  there  alone,  seeking  to 
recall  the  dead  to  life  again.  Just  as  the  wheels  of 
the  carriage  smote  upon  his  ears,  a  faint  sign  of  life 
in  the  body  of  Crane  almost  startled  him.  The  hand 
which  had  seemed  lifeless  beat  with  a  perceptible 
pulse ;  and  John  sprang  up,  met  Tom  at  the  door 
with  the  glad  cry,  "He  lives  ! " 

Tenderly  they  bore  him  to  the  carriage,  and  drove 
over  the  rough  streets  to  his  home.  Tenderly  they 
laid  him  in  his  bed  and  gave  him  stimulants  and 
rubbed  his  hands  and  placed  hot  bricks  at  his  feet. 

AH  night  long  they  worked  over  him  with   unceas- 


HOW   JOHN    PROVED    HIMSELF    FAITHFUL  313 

ing  labor,  and  as  the  morning  broke,  he  opened  his 
eyes  and  looked  about  him. 

"Something  must  have  hit  me!"  he  said,  recalling 
to  himself  the  events  of  the  preceding  evening. 

"  Yes,"  said  his  wife,  "  and  John  here  saved  your 
life!" 

Crane  looked  at  the  boy,  who  sat  beside  his  bed, 
with  streaks  of  paint  still  on  his  face. 

"Aha!"  he  said,  "and  you  were  there,  were  you, 
you  pappoose!  " 

He  closed  his  eyes  again,  wearied  by  the  exertion 
of  speaking  even  those  few  words.  Then  opening 
his  eyes  again,  he  called  Mrs.  Crane  to  him  and 
whispered  a  word  in  her  ear.  She  left  the  room 
for  a  moment,  and  returning,  placed  something  in  his 
hand. 

"Young  man,"  he  said  to  John,  "I  don't  know 
what  you  did  those  other  two  nights,  and  I  do  not 
care !  I  know  I  can  trust  you !  Here  are  the 
keys !  " 

John  took  the  keys  and  knelt  beside  the  bed.  A 
great  nervous  reaction  followed  the  strain  and  anxiety 
of  the  night.  He  cried  for  joy,  and  the  tears  washed 
other  furrows  in  the  paint  upon  his  face. 


314         WHEN  BOSTON  BRAVED  THE  KING 

"  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it  when  you  are  able  to 
hear  it,"  said  John. 

"  I  can  wait,"  said  Crane. 

"I  am  so  glad,"  said  John,  "to  have  these  keys 
again." 

"And  on  the  whole,"  said  Crane,  "I  think  I  have 
reason  to  be  glad  that  you  youngsters  had  your 
share  in  the  Tea-Party." 


W.  A.  Wilde  S*  Co.,  Publishers. 


T 


War  of  the  Revolution  Series. 

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It  is  a  story  of  three  boys  who  were  drawn  into  the  events  of  the  times,  is  patriotic, 
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TlfASHINGTON' S  YOUNG  AIDS.     A  Story  of  the 
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The  book  has  enough  history  and  description  to  give  value  to  the  story  which  ought 
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The  historical  details  of  the  story  are  taken  from  old  records.  These  include 
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Few  boys'  stories  of  this  class  show  so  close  a  study  of  history  combined  with  such 
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rWO   YOUNG  PATRIOTS.     A  Story  of  Burgoyne's 
Invasion.     366pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

The  crucial  campaign  in  the  American  struggle  for  independence  came  in  the  sum 
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the  Hudson.  The  American  forces  were  brave,  hard  fighters,  and  they  worried  and 
harassed  the  British  and  finally  defeated  them.  The  history  of  this  campaign  is  one 
of  great  interest  and  is  well  brought  out  in  the  part  which  the  "  two  young  patriots" 
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dry  paragraph  nor  a  single  line  of  useless  moralizing  in  any  of  his  books. 

To  stimulate,  inspire,  and  guide  is  the  mission  of  his  latest  book,  "  Success,"  and 
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to  his  own  undiscovered  possibilities  ;  to  urge  him  not  to  wait  for  great  opportunities, 
but  to  seize  common  occasions  and  make  them  great,  for  he  cannot  tell  when  fate  may 
take  his  measure  for  a  higher  place. 

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Brain  and  Brawn  Series. 

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rHE   YOUNG  REPORTER.     A    Story   of    Printing 
House  Square.     300  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

I  commend  the  book  unreservedly.  —  Golden  Rule. 

"  The  Young  Reporter"  is  a  rattling  book  for  boys.  —  New  York  Recorder. 

The  best  boys'  book  I  ever  read.  —  Mr.  Phillips,  Critic  for  New  York  Times. 

CT'HE  FAST  MAIL.     A  Story  of  a  Train  Boy.    328  pp. 
-£        Cloth,  $1.50. 

•an 

thai  me  nme  sons  ui  me  present  writer  nave  greeuuy  uevoureu  me  cumems  ui  me  voi- 
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New  York. 


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It  is  a  strong  book  for  boys  and  young  men.  —  Buffalo  Commercial, 


HE  BEACH  PATROL.     A  Story  of  the  Life-Saving 
Service.     318  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

inculcated  of  the  best,  and,  above  all, 

:light  as  well  as  stimulate  to  higher 
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rHE    YOUNG    SUPERCARGO.      A    Story   of   the 
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Kit  Silburn  is  a  real  "  Brain  and  Brawn  "  boy,  full  of  sense  and  grit  and  sound 
gp^d  qualities.  Determined  to  make  his  way  in  life,  and  with  no  influential  friends  to 
give  him  a  start,  he  does  a  deal  of  hard  work  between  the  evening  when  he  first  meets 
the  stanch  Captain  Griffith,  and  the  proud  day  when  he  becomes  purser  of  a  great 
i  cean  s  e  imship.  His  sea  adventures  are  mostly  on  shore;  but  whether  he  is  cleaning 
the  cabin  of  the  North  Cape,  or  landing  cargo  in  Yucatan,  or  hurrying  the  spongers 
and  fruitmen  of  Nassau,  or  exploring  London,  or  sight  seeing  with  a  disguised  prince 
in  Marseilles,  he  is  always  the  same  busy,  thoroughgoing,  manly  Kit.  Whether  or  not 
he  has  a  father  alive  is  a  question  of  deep  interest  throughout  the  story ;  but  that  he 
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the  little  violiniste.  —  Transcript,  Boston. 

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Sahara  Desert,  etc.    BY  THOS.  W.  KNOX.     325  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 
A  story  of  absorbing  interest.  —  Boston  Journal. 

Our  young  people  will  pronounce  it  unusually  good.  —  Albany  Argus. 
Col.  Knox  has  struck  a  popular  note  in  his  latest  volume.  —  Springfield  Republican. 

CT'HE   LAND    OF   THE    KANGAROO.     BY  THOS. 
JL       W.  KNOX.     Adventures  of  Two  Boys  in  the  Great  Island  Con 
tinent.     318  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

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The  actual  truthfulness  of  the  book  needs  no  gloss  to  add  to  its  absorbing  interest. — 
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\VER    THE    ANDES;   or,   Our  Boys  in   New  South 
America.     BY    HEZEKIAH    BUTTERWORTH.      368   pp.      Cloth, 

#1.50. 

No  writer  of  the  present  century  has  done  more  and  better  service  than  Hezekiah 
Butterworth  in  the  production  of  helpful  literature  for  the  young.  In  this  volume  he 
writes,  in  his  own  fascinating  way,  of  a  country  too  little  known  by  American  readers. — 
Christian  Work. 

Mr.  Butterworth  is  careful  of  his  historic  facts,  and  then  he  charmingly  interweaves 
fcis  quaint  stories,  legends,  and  patriotic  adventures  as  few  writers  can.  —  Chicago  Inter- 
Ocean. 

The  subject  is  an  inspiring  one,  and  Mr.  Butterworth  has  done  full  justice  to  the 
kigh  ideals  which  have  inspired  the  men  of  South  America.  —  Religious  Telescope. 

OST  IN  NICARAGUA  ;  or,  The  Lands  of  the  Great 
Canal.     BY  HEZEKIAH  BUTTERWORTH.    295  pp.    Cloth,  $1.50. 

The  book  pictures  the  wonderful  land  of  Nicaragua  and  continues  the  story  of  the 
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Companion  book  to  "  Over  the  Andes,"  one  of  the  boy  travelers  who  goes  into  the 
Nicaraguan  forests  in  search  of  a  quetzal,  or  the  royal  bird  of  the  Aztecs,  falls  into  an 
ancient  idol  cave,  and  is  rescued  in  a  remarkable  way  by  an  old  Mosquito  Indian.  The 
narrative  is  told  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  ancient  legends  of  Guatemala,  the  story  of 
the  chieftain,  Nicaragua,  the  history  of  the  Central  American  Republics,  and  the  natural 
history  of  the  wonderlands  of  the  ocelot,  the  conger,  parrots,  and  monkeys. 

Since  the  voyage  of  the  Oregon,  of  13,000  miles  to  reach  Key  West  the  American 
people  have  seen  what  would  be  the  value  of  the  Nicaragua  Canal.  The  book  gives  the 
history  of  the  projects  for  the  canal,  and  facts  about  Central  America,  and  a  part  of  it 
was  written  in  Costa  Rica.  It  enters  a  new  field. 

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L 


UARTERDECK     AND      FOK'SLE.     BY    MOLLY 

ELLIOTT  SEAWELL.     272  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 


Miss  Seawell  has  done  a  notable  work  for  the  young  people  of  our  country  in  ner 
excellent  stories  of  naval  exploits.  They  are  of  the  kind  that  causes  the  reader,  no 
matter  whether  young  or  old,  to  thrill  with  pride  and  patriotism  at  the  deeds  of  daring 
•f  the  heroes  of  our  navy. 

W.  A.  Wilde  &*  Co.,  Boston  and  Chicago. 


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Fighting  for  the  Flag  Series. 

By  Chas.  Ledyard  Norton. 

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'61.     281  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

An  unusually  interesting  historical  story,  and  one  that  will  arouse  the  loyal  impulses 
of  every  American  boy  and  girl.  The  story  is  distinctly  superior  to  anything  ever 
attempted  along  this  line  before.  —  The  Independent. 

A  story  that  will  arouse  the  loyal  impulses  of  every  American  boy  and  girl.  —  The 
Press. 


J 


/I  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  MAN;  or,  Cruising  Among 
*£J.  Blockade  Runners.  280  pp.  Cloth,  $1.25. 

A  bright,  breezy  sequel  to  "  Jack  Benson's  Log."  The  book  has  unusual  literary 
excellence.  —  The  Book  Buyer,  New  York. 

A  stirring  story  for  boys.  —  The  Journal,  Indianapolis. 

MIDSHIPMAN  JACK.     290  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

-^  '-*  Jack  is  a  delightful  hero,  and  the  author  has  made  his  experiences  and  ad 
ventures  seem  very  real.  —  Congregational ist. 

It  is  true  historically  and  full  of  exciting  war  scenes  and  adventures.  —  Outlook. 

A  stirring  story  of  naval  service  in  the  Confederate  waters  during  the  late  war.  — 
Presbyterian. 


The  set  of  three  volumes  in  a  box,  $3.75. 


A 


GIRL  OF  '/<5.    BY  AMY  E.  BLANCH ARD.    331   pp. 
Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  A  Girl  of  '76  "  lays  its  scene  in  and  around  Boston  where  the  principal  events  of 
the  early  period  of  the  Revolution  were  enacted.  Elizabeth  Hall,  the  heroine,  is  the 
daughter  of  a  patriot  who  is  active  in  the  defense  of  his  country.  The  story  opens  with 
a  scene  in  Charlestown,  where  Elizabeth  Hall  and  her  parents  live.  The  emptying  of 
the  tea  in  Boston  Harbor  is  the  means  of  giving  the  little  girl  her  first  strong  impression 
as  to  the  seriousness  of  her  father's  opinions,  and  causes  a  quarrel  between  herself  and 
her  schoolmate  and  playfellow,  Amos  Dwight. 

SOLDIER    OF  THE  LEGION.     BY  CHAS.  LED- 
YARD  NORTON.    300  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

Two  boys,  a  Carolinian  and  a  Virginian,  born  a  few  years  apart  during  the  last  half 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  afford  the  groundwork  for  the  incidents  of  this  tale. 

The  younger  of  the  two  was  William  Henry  Harrison,  sometime  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  elder,  his  companion  and  faithful  attendant  through  life,  was 
Carolinus  Bassett,  Sergeant  of  the  old  First  Infantry,  and  in  an  irregular  sort  of  a  way 
Captain  of  Virginian  Horse.  He  it  is  who  tells  the  story  a  few  years  after  President 
Harrison's  death,  his  granddaughter  acting  as  critic  and  amanuensis. 

The  story  has  to  do  with  the  early  days  of  the  Republic,  when  the  great,  wild,  un 
known  West  was  beset  by  dangers  on  every  hand,  and  the  Government  at  Washington 
was  at  its  wits'  end  to  provide  ways  and  means  to  meet  the  perplexing  problems  of 
national  existence. 

W.  A.  Wilde  &>  Co.,  Boston  and  Chicago. 

4 


W.  A.  Wilde  <5r>  Co.,  Publishers. 


rHE  ORCUTT  GIRLS;  or,  One  Term  at  the  Academy. 
BY  CHARLOTTE  M.  VAILE.    316  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

A  well-told  story  of  school  life  which  will  interest  its  readers  deeply,  and  hold 
before  them  a  high  standard  of  living.  The  heroines  are  charming  girls  and  their 
adventures  are  described  in  an  entertaining  way.  —  Pilgrim  Teacher. 

Mrs.  Vaile  gives  us  a  story  here  which  will  become  famous  as  a  description  of  a 
phase  of  New  England  educational  history  which  has  now  become  a  thing  of  the  past, 
with  an  exception  here  and  there.  —  Boston  Transcript. 

UE  ORCUTT.     A  Sequel  to  "  The  Orcutt  Girls."     BY 
CHARLOTTE  M.  VAILE.     330  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

It  is  a  charming  story  from  beginning  to  end  and  is  written  in  that  easy  flowing 
style  which  characterizes  the  best  stories  of  our  best  writers.  —  Christian  Work. 

It  is  wholly  a  piece  of  good  fortune  for  young  folks  that  brings  this  book  to  market 
in  such  ample  season  for  the  selection  of  holiday  gifts.  — Denver  Republican. 

The  story  teaches  a  good  moral  without  any  preaching,  in  fact  it  is  as  good  in  a  way 
as  Miss  Alcott's  books,  which  is  high  but  deserved  praise.  —  Chronicle. 

HE  M.  M.  C.     A  Story  of  the  Great  Rockies.     BY 
CHARLOTTE  M.  VAILE.     232  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

The  pluck  of  the  little  school  teacher,  struggling  against  adverse  circumstances,  to 
hold  for  her  friend  the  promising  claim,  which  he  has  secured  after  years  of  misfortune 
in  other  ventures,  is  well  brought  out.  The  almost  resistless  bad  luck  which  has  made 
"  Old  Hopefull's  "  nickname  a  hollow  mockery  still  followed  him  when  a  fortune  was 
almost  within  his  grasp.  The  little  school  teacher  was,  however,  a  new  element  in  "  Old 
Hopefull's  "  experience,  and  the  result,  as  the  story  shows,  was  most  satisfactory. 


s 


T 


ROMANCE  OF  DISCOVERY ,-  or,  a  Thousand 
Years  of  Exploration,  etc.  BY  WILLIAM  ELLIOT  GRIFFIS. 
305  pp.  Cloth,  $1.50. 

It  is  a  book  of  profit  and  interest  involving  a  variety  of  correlated  instances  and 
influences  which  impart  the  flavor  of  the  unexpected.  —  Philadelphia,  Presbyterian. 

An  intensely  interesting  narrative  following  well-authenticated  history.  —  Telescope. 

Boys  will  read  it  for  the  romance  in  it  and  be  delighted,  and  when  they  get  through, 
behold  !  they  have  read  a  history  of  America.  —  A-wakener. 

rHE  ROMANCE  OF  AMERICAN  COLONIZA 
TION;  or,  How  the  Foundations  of  Our  Country  Were  Laid. 
BY  WILLIAM  ELLIOT  GRIFFIS.  295  pp.  Cloth,  $1.50. 

To  this  continent,  across  a  great  ocean,  came  two  distinct  streams  of  humanity 
and  two  rival  civilizations,  —  the  one  Latin,  led  and  typified  by  the  Spanish,  with 
Portugese  and  French  also,  and  the  other  Germanic,  or  Anglo-Saxon,  led  and  typified 
by  the  English  and  reinforced  by  Dutch,  German,  and  British  people. 

/j    SON   OF    THE    RE  VOL  UTION.     An  Historical 
^1     Novel  of  the  Days  of  Aaron  Burr.     BY  ELBRIDGE  S.  BROOKS. 
301  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

The  story  of  Tom  Edwards,  adventurer,  as  it  is  connected  with  Aaron  Burr,  is 
in  every  way  faithful  to  the  facts  of  history  As  the  story  progresses  the  reader  will 
wonder  where  the  line  between  fact  and  fiction  is  to  be  drawn.  Among  the  characters 
that  figure  in  it  are  President  Jefferson,  Gen  Andrew  Jackson,  General  Wilkinson, 
and  many  other  prominent  government  and  army  officials. 

W.  A.  Wilde  d^  Co.,  Boston  and  Chicago. 


W.  A.   Wilde  <5^>  Co.,  Publishers. 


M 


A 


K 


ALVERN,  A   NEIGHBORHOOD   STORY.     BY 
ELLEN  DOUGLAS  DELANO.     341  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

Her  descriptions  of  boys  and  girls  are  so  true,  and  her  knowledge  of  their  ways  is 
so  accurate,  that  one  must  feel  an  admiration  for  her  complete  mastery  of  her  chosen 
field.  —  The  A  rgus,  A  Ibany. 

Miss  Deland  was  accorded  a  place  with  Louisa  M.  Alcott  and  Nora  Perry  as  a 
successful  writer  of  books  for  girls.  We  think  this  praise  none  too  high.  —  The  Post. 

SUCCESSFUL   VENTURE.     BY  ELLEN    DOUGLAS 
DELAND.     340  pp.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

One  of  the  many  successful  books  that  have  come  from  her  pen,  which  is  certainly 
the  very  best.  —  Boston  Herald. 

It  is  a  good  piece  of  work  and  its  blending  of  good  sense  and  entertainment  will  be 
appreciated.  —  Congregationalist. 

:4TRINA.     BY  ELLEN   DOUGLAS   DELAND.     340  pp. 

Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  Katrina  "  is  the  story  of  a  girl  who  was  brought  up  by  an  aunt  in  a  remote  village 
of  Vermont.  Her  life  is  somewhat  lonely  until  a  family  from  New  York  come  there  to 
board  during  the  summer.  Katrina's  aunt,  who  is  a  reserved  woman,  has  told  her  little 
of  her  antecedents,  and  she  supposes  that  she  has  no  other  relatives.  Her  New  York 
friends  grow  very  fond  of  her  and  finally  persuade  her  to  visit  them  dunng  the  winter. 
There  new  pleasures  and  new  temptations  present  themselves,  and  Katrina's  character 
develops  through  them  to  new  strength. 

JBOVE  THE  RANGE.     BY  THEODORA  R.  JENNESS. 
-//     332  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

The  quaintness  of  the  characters  described  will  be  sure  to  make  the  story  very  pop 
ular.  —  Book  News,  Philadelphia. 

A  book  of  much  interest  and  novelty.  —  The  Book  Buyer,  New  York. 


B 


F 


IG  CYPRESS.     BY  KIRK  MUNROE.     164  pp.    Cloth, 
.00. 

If  there  is  a  man  who  understands  writing  a  story  for  boys  better  than  another,  it  is 
Kirk  Munroe.  • — Springfield  Republican. 

A  capital  writer  of  boys'  stories  is  Mr.  Kirk  Munroe.  —  Outlook. 

VREMAN  JENNIE.    BY  AMOS  R.  WELLS.    A  Young 
Woman  of  Business.     268  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

It  is  a  delightful  story.  —  The  Advance,  Chicago. 

It  is  full  of  action.  —  The  Standard,  Chicago. 

A  story  of  decided  merit.  —  The  Epworth  Herald,  Chicago. 

Tl/IYSTERIOUS    VOYAGE     OF  THE   DAPHNE. 
J-rJ-      BY  LIEUT.  H.  P.  WHITMARSH.    305  pp.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

One  of  the  best  collections  of  short  stories  for  boys  and  girls  that  has  been  pub 
lished  in  recent  years.  Such  writers  as  Hezekiah  Butterworth,  Wm.  O.  Stoddard,  and 
Jane  G.  Austin  have  contributed  characteristic  stories  which  add  greatly  to  the  general 
interest  of  the  book. 

W.  A.  Wilde  &•=  Co.,  Boston  and  Chicago. 


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